Genomic instability switch identified An age-dependent switch causes old yeast cells to show increased genomic instability By David Secko
The observation that age and cancer are inextricably linked is clear from the exponential increase in the cases of cancer at the end of human life. Chromosomal abnormalities are seen in all older individuals, cancerous or not, and this genomic instability is considered one of the hallmark prerequisites of cancer. In addition to the mutations that may cause cancer accumulating over time, the rates at which they occur also increase with age. The explanations for this observation are plentiful and hotly debated, but it has been difficult to adequately test these theories. In the September 26 Science, Michael A. McMurray and Daniel Gottschling from the University of Washington used Saccharomyces cerevisiae to study this hallmark of cancer and discovered an age-related switch to genomic instability (Science, 301:1908-1911, September 26, 2003).
The observation that age and cancer are inextricably linked is clear from the exponential increase in the cases of cancer at the end of human life. Chromosomal abnormalities are seen in all older individuals, cancerous or not, and this genomic instability is considered one of the hallmark prerequisites of cancer. In addition to the mutations that may cause cancer accumulating over time, the rates at which they occur also increase with age. The explanations for this observation are plentiful and hotly debated, but it has been difficult to adequately test these theories. In the September 26 Science, Michael A. McMurray and Daniel Gottschling from the University of Washington used Saccharomyces cerevisiae to study this hallmark of cancer and discovered an age- related switch to genomic instability (Science, 301:1908-1911, September 26, 2003).
I saw this too. Makes me wonder how bristlecone pines and creosote bushes manage to work around this problem.
-- Lucius Chiaraviglio Approximate E-mail address: [email hidden] To get the exact address: ^^^ ^replace this with 'r' ||| replace this with single digit meaning the same thing (Spambots of Doom, take that!).
<< I saw this too. Makes me wonder how bristlecone pines and creosote bushes manage to work around this problem. >>
You make a good point. If age is the only determinant for cancer then EVERY old individual should get it. If there are exceptions then the cause of cancer is more complicated than just age. I note in humans that often those with cancer have a specific cancer psychological behavior. Exploring that may provide a clue to its cure.
