Scientists at the University of California at San Diego (USA) in search of a way to combat the natural aging of a person, have found a way to rebuild the biological clock, writes the “MIR 24” portal.
The aging process of body cells occurs under the influence of chemical reactions that lead to the formation of toxic waste products that accumulate and damage DNA and other parts of the cell. The body tries to destroy such cells before they become capable of harming.
Using the yeast culture as an example, American scientists have learned that in yeast cells, aging is caused either by a disruption in energy production by mitochondria, sometimes called the “atomic reactor of the cell”, or by a change in the protein properties of the cell. One of these factors causes cell death. Scientists managed to ensure that the yeast cells turned on the mechanism of switching between these two factors, due to which the cells lived 82% longer than they should.
According to geneticists, such an experiment can be carried out in relation to human cells - stem cells and neurons. This does not guarantee immortality, but it can significantly extend the period of human life.
