Avian Lifespan Network Reveals Shared Mechanisms and New Key Players in Animal Longevity.

ABSTRACT: Lifespan is a highly variable life trait across the Tree of Life, governed by complex and multifactorial mechanisms. While some conserved pathways regulating longevity have been identified in various species, the molecular basis of this phenotype is far from being understood. In this context, the adoption of new model species and methods of investigation may offer opportunities to explore the molecular underpinnings of longevity in animals. In this study, we investigated the genomic resources of 141 birds to analyze the molecular evolution underlying extremely long- and short lifespans. We show that birds with similar lifespans exhibit convergent evolution in specific genes regardless of body mass and phylogenetic relationship, enabling the construction of a "lifespan network" of protein-p

SUBMITTER: Martini M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12419847 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature