"Unlocking Longevity: Taming Jumping Genes for a Longer Life"
Controlling "jumping genes" or transposable elements (TEs) through the Piwi-piRNA system could potentially increase lifespan, according to a study conducted on roundworms. TEs can introduce mutations into functional DNA regions, contributing to genomic instability and aging. By activating the Piwi-piRNA system and blocking TE activity, roundworms lived between one to four days longer. The study also revealed that TEs undergo epigenetic modifications as the worms age, which could potentially be used as a biological clock to determine age from DNA.