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Scientists Tinker With Biological Clock
New discovery on engineered liver genes could slow aging
By Peter Fearon
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Posted Aug 11, 08 2:07 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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US researchers believe they have found a way to turn back the clock on the processes which make organs age. Scientists engineered genetic alterations to make the livers of older mice function like younger mice, the BBC reports. The discovery may lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's and other diseases associated with aging.
The research focused on the way organ cells recycle proteins. The cells become less efficient with age, causing a protein "'logjam." The latest results "show it's possible to correct this protein logjam, perhaps helping us to enjoy healthier lives well into old age," said one of the researchers.