Cynthia Kenyon became involved in investigating the aging process in the early 1990s. By comparing C. elegans worms with normal (short) lifespan and long-lived C. elegans mutants, Kenyon discovered that mutations that reduced the activity of the daf-2 gene doubled the lifespan of the worms which remained youthful and active much longer than their wild-type, normal counterparts. These observations suggested that daf-2 mutations altered the rate of aging demonstrating that a single specific gene could have a truly profound effect on aging.
Kenyon also discovered the daf-16 gene being the one that could keep an animal young. The daf-2 and daf-16 genes affect lifespan by influencing the level of the body’s antioxidants, the integrity of its immune system, its ability to repair its proteins, and many other beneficial processes. Another important finding of Kenyon was that the daf-16 gene is influenced by signals from the environment and also by signals from the reproductive system. This finding was used to extend the lifespan of worms by six fold.
Other investigators showed that daf-2-like genes control the lifespan of fruit flies, mice and possibly also humans. When these genes are changed, aging is slowed and lifespan is extended.
In summarizing her own achievements and those of her research team, Cynthia Kenyon wrote: “To me it seems possible that a fountain of youth, made of molecules and not simply dreams, will someday be a reality.”
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2015 Update from Dr. Cynthia Kenyon
I hope readers don’t think that I think that we will ever be immortal. I’m hoping that using this information, humans will one day be able to remain youthful and free of age-related disease for a longer time (have a longer “health span”). We don’t know if nudging these molecules will slow aging in humans, although there are hints that it might.
-Cynthia Kenyon
July 2, 2015
Among Cynthia Kenyon’s honors are a member of the National Academy of Sciences; American Academy of Arts & Science; Honorary Doctorate, University of Paris; King Faisal International Prize for Medicine, La Foundation IPSEN Prize; and the AARP Inspire Award.
About the Author
While writing her award-winning suspense novel, Nine Days to Evil, a funny thing happened. Supporting character Aggie Mundeen demanded that Nancy write about her. Aggie’s first caper, Fit to Be Dead, was Lefty Award Finalist for Best Humorous Mystery. Dang Near Dead was named a “Must Read” by Southern Writers Magazine. In Smart, But Dead, Aggie learns genetic secrets of staying young and critical lessons about love and about staying alive.
In Case You Missed the 1st Book in the Series
FIT TO BE DEAD
Nancy G. West
An Aggie Mundeen Mystery (#1)
Aggie Mundeen, single and pushing forty, fears nothing but middle age. When she moves from Chicago to San Antonio, she decides she better shape up before anybody discovers she writes the column, “Stay Young with Aggie.” She takes Aspects of Aging at University of the Holy Trinity and plunges into exercise at Fit and Firm.
Rusty at flirting and mechanically inept, she irritates a slew of male exercisers, then stumbles into murder. She’d like to impress the attractive detective with her sleuthing skills. But when the killer comes after her, the health club evacuates semi-clad patrons, and the detective has to stall his investigation to save Aggie’s derriere.
Read all about it and/or grab the book from Amazon
CLICK FOR FIT TO BE DEAD
In Case You Missed the 2nd Book in the Series
DANG NEAR DEAD
Nancy G. West
An Aggie Mundeen Mystery (#2)
Aggie takes a vacation with Sam and Meredith at a Texas Hill Country dude ranch with plans to advise her column readers how to stay young and fresh in summer. Except for wranglers, dudes, heat, snakes and poison ivy, what could go wrong?
When an expert rider is thrown from a horse and lies in a coma, Aggie is convinced somebody caused the fall. Despite Sam’s warnings, Aggie is determined to expose the assailant. She concocts ingenious sleuthing methods that strain their dicey relationship as she probes secrets of the ranch and its inhabitants. After she scatters a hornet’s nest of cowboys, she discovers more than one hombre in the bunch would like to slit her throat.
Read all about it and/or grab the book from Amazon
CLICK FOR DANG NEAR DEAD
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Henery Press Mystery Books
And finally, before you go...
Here are a few other mysteries
you might enjoy:
PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY
Larissa Reinhart
A Cherry Tucker Mystery (#1)
In Halo, Georgia, folks know Cherry Tucker as big in mouth, small in stature, and able to sketch a portrait faster than buck-shot rips from a ten gauge -- but commissions are scarce. So when the well-heeled Branson family wants to memorialize their murdered son in a coffin portrait, Cherry scrambles to win their patronage from her small town rival.
As the clock ticks toward the deadline, Cherry faces more trouble than just a controversial subject. Between ex-boyfriends, her flaky family, an illegal gambling ring, and outwitting a killer on a spree, Cherry finds herself painted into a corner she’ll be lucky to survive.
Read all about it and/or grab the book from Amazon
CLICK FOR PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY
FRONT PAGE FATALITY
LynDee Walker
A Headlines in High Heels Mystery (#1)
Crime reporter Nichelle Clarke’s days can flip from macabre to comical with a beep of her police scanner. Then an ordinary accident story turns extraordinary when evidence goes missing, a prosecutor vanishes, and a sexy Mafia boss shows up with the headline tip of a lifetime.
As Nichelle gets closer to the truth, her story gets more dangerous. Armed with a notebook, a hunch, and her favorite stilettos, Nichelle races to splash these shady dealings across the front page before this deadline becomes her last.
Read all about it and/or grab the book from Amazon
CLICK FOR FRONT PAGE FATALITY
CROPPED TO DEATH
Christina Freeburn
A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery (#1)
Former US Army JAG specialist, Faith Hunter, returns to her West Virginia home to work in her grandmothers’ scrapbooking store determined to lead an unassuming life after her adventure abroad turned disaster. But her quiet life unravels when her friend is charged with murder – and Faith inadvertently supplied the evidence. So Faith decides to cut through the scrap and piece together what really happened.
With a sexy prosecutor, a determined homicide detective, a handful of sticky suspects and a crop contest gone bad, Faith quickly realizes if she’s not careful, she’ll be the next one cropped.
Read all about it and/or grab the book from Amazon
CLICK FOR CROPPED TO DEATH
MURDER ON A SILVER PLATTER
Shawn Reilly Simmons
A Red Carpet Catering Mystery (#1)
Penelope Sutherland and her Red Carpet Catering company just got their big break as the on-set caterer for an upcoming blockbuster. But when she discovers a dead body outside
her house, Penelope finds herself in hot water. Things start to boil over when serious accidents threaten the lives of the cast and crew. And when the film’s star, who happens to be Penelope’s best friend, is poisoned, the entire production is nearly shut down.
Threats and accusations send Penelope out of the frying pan and into the fire as she struggles to keep her company afloat. Before Penelope can dish up dessert, she must find the killer or she’ll be the one served up on a silver platter.
Available February 2016
Read all about it at www.henerypress.com
Smart, But Dead (An Aggie Mundeen Mystery Book 3) Page 21
