Wednesday, October 26, 2011
By MALCOLM RITTER
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — George Eberhardt turned 107 last month, and scientists would love to know how he and other older folks like him made it that far. So he's going to hand over some of his DNA. He's one of 100 centenarians taking part in a project announced Wednesday that will examine some of the oldest citizens with one of the newest scientific tools: whole-genome sequencing, the deciphering of a person's complete collection of DNA.
In this Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 photo, Marie Eberhardt helps her husband George Eberhardt, 107, of Chester, NJ. after they both got their annual flu shot in Mendham, N.J. George Eberhardt turned 107 in September 2011, and scientists would love to know how he and other older folks like him make it that far. So he's going to hand over some of his DNA. He is taking part in one of two projects announced in October 2011 that will examine some of the oldest citizens with one of the newest scientific tools: whole-genome sequencing, the deciphering of a person's complete collection of DNA.
This Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 photo shows George Eberhardt, 107, of Chester, NJ. after being given his annual flu shot in Mendham, N.J. Eberhardt turned 107 in September 2011, and scientists would love to know how he and other older folks like him make it that far. So he's going to hand over some of his DNA. He is taking part in one of two projects announced in October 2011 that will examine some of the oldest citizens with one of the newest scientific tools: whole-genome sequencing, the deciphering of a person's complete collection of DNA. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Scientists think DNA from very old healthy people could offer clues to how they lived so long. And that could one day lead to medicines to help the rest of us stay disease-free longer.
By the time you reach, say, 105, “it's very hard to get there without some genetic advantages,” says Dr. Thomas Perls, a geriatrics expert at Boston University.
Perls is helping find centenarians for the Archon Genomics X Prize competition. The X Prize Foundation, best known for a spaceflight competition, is offering $10 million in prize money to researchers who decipher the complete DNA code from 100 people older than 100. The contest will be judged on accuracy, completeness and the speed and cost of sequencing.
The contest is a relaunch of an older competition with a new focus on centenarians, and it's the second sequencing project involving the elderly to be announced this month.
Genome pioneer J. Craig Venter says the centenarian project is just a first step in revealing the genetic secrets of a long and healthy life.
“We need 10,000 genomes, not 100, to start to understand the link between genetics, disease and wellness,” said Venter, who is co-chairing the X Prize contest.
http://beforeitsnews.com/story/1286/559/Longevitys_Secrets_Sought_In_DNA_Of_100-Year-Olds.html
— Last Edited by Greentea at 2011-11-01 21:24:32 —
— Last Edited by Greentea at 2011-11-01 21:25:34 —
