Gene Regulation May Control How Long We Live

Alternative splicing forms a second, independent layer of lifespan regulation across mammals.

Which genes are active and how cells edit their RNA may influence the upper limit of human lifespan.

Splicing patterns vary in precise, predictable ways between short-lived and long-lived species.

The study compared splicing across six tissues in 26 mammal species and identified 731 markers.

Up to 95% of multi-exon human genes are spliced and roughly 15% of inherited diseases and cancers involve splicing errors.