Testing Two Evolutionary Theories of Human Aging with DNA Methylation Data.

ABSTRACT: The evolutionary theories of mutation accumulation (MA) and disposable soma (DS) provide possible explanations for the existence of human aging. To better understand the relative importance of these theories, we devised a test to identify MA- and DS-consistent sites across the genome using familial DNA methylation data. Two key characteristics of DNA methylation allowed us to do so. First, DNA methylation exhibits distinct and widespread changes with age, with numerous age-differentially-methylated sites observed across the genome. Second, many sites show heritable DNA methylation patterns within families. We extended heritability predictions of MA and DS to DNA methylation, predicting that MA-consistent age-differentially-methylated sites will show increasing heritability with age, while

SUBMITTER: Robins C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5714465 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature