Kevin Paul Grant wrote:
>>>> Has "naked" (completely lacking in any covering molecules)
> DNA from a person ever been checked to see if it is the DNA
> itself that accumulates age-related damage? Or is it possible
> that it is the stuff that covers the various genes that gets
> damaged and it is the symptoms of *this* damage that are at
> least partially responsible for aging?
>>> Perhaps the DNA in sex cells (as they exist in normal fertilization)
> is completely "uncovered" and some part of the cloning (or fetal
> development) process can completely "uncover" covered DNA, removing
> the damaged covering material and thus allowing "adult" DNA to be
> used for cloning purposes without resulting in a damaged end-product.
>
What a great idea it is!
Kevin's idea can be summaried as follows:
The cause of aging is in the altered expression of genes like a
developmental process, rather than in accumulated damages to genes
themselves. Should a certain damage be involved in the aging process, it
may be in the molecules to regulate the gene expression.
Thus, Aging may occurs as a result of altered expressions of genes
by such accumulated damages.
I want to suggest that DNA methylation holds some answers to your
questions.
Although I don't know much about it, as far as I know, DNA methylation
patterns change as a cell differentiates, or ages.
Perhaps DNA methylation appeares to be involved in transcription
regulation. I remember the journal Cell has several good reviews on it.
I hope that this discussion goes on.
Is there anyboy to comment it? I am really excited by this great post.
Best regards
Hang-Jun Jang
