Leveraging natural experiments in aging through broad phylogenetic analysis of genomic variation
Rockfish exhibit a remarkable range of longevities, from 11 to over 200 years. Resisting the rigors of time for over two centuries is a capability that must be regulated in their genome, the mechanisms of which are currently unknown. In the proposed research, Dr. Stephen Treaster will utilize Phylomapping, a cost-efficient strategy to probe genomic variation across large numbers of uncharacterized species. Via comparisons between the short- and long-lived species, Dr. Treaster will identify regulators of longevity, which can then be applied to human age-related diseases, with the long-term goal of delaying, ameliorating, or preventing them entirely.
