Spanish researchers conducted sequencing eczema (the coding regions of the genome) 3 centenarians aged a hundred years old, and found they have a rare mutation in the apolipoprotein B, the carrier of "bad cholesterol".

About his own discoveries, researchers reported in the journal Aging Cell, and briefly about the study informs New Scientist.

Scientists have long suspected that for a long lifetime meet a rare genetic mutation, but conventional research often miss the sight of them, because they is sequenced small DNA fragments about fashionable varieties, and does not examine the entire genome in search of the unknown. Because Timothy Cache (Timothy Cash), an employee of the National cancer research center (Spain), and his colleague sequenced the entire ind 3 hundred years old and 4 of their brothers and sisters, in addition centenarians. Later passed comparison with asomani 800 people with an average population life expectancy.

Scientists have found that all of centenarians are rare (comparatively members of the control group) mutation of the gene apolipoprotein B. the Protein encoded by homeobox gene, causing accumulation of "bad cholesterol" in the blood vessel walls. For example, this leads to atherosclerosis. Perhaps, found mutations reduce the content of "bad cholesterol" in the blood. If the blood test taken from the centenary of the Spaniards, will prove this conjecture, scientists will receive another confirmation of the doctrine of the tremendous importance of the cardiovascular system for a long life.

According to other studies, the duration of human life has a great influence another gene (apolipoprotein E) - and he among other things plays a role in transporting cholesterol. However, mutation of this gene among other things reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. In the end, with longevity in 2008 tied the FOXO3A gene, one of the mutations which inter alia found that almost all the inhabitants of our planet over the age of 90 years.
sections: Society, World News