Major and Classification
Biochemistry
Faculty Mentors
- Professor Valter Longo
Department
- Molecular Gerontology
McNair Project
“Longevity in S. Cerevisiae”
Recently published studies on model systems such as yeast, worms, and fruit flies suggest that longevity in many eukaryotes may be regulated by fundamental mechanisms specific to stress resistance and growth. The replicative life span of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) is one paradigm that has allowed for the recognition of long-lived mutant strains; another is the chronological life span. This paper discusses the relevance of studying longevity in yeast in terms of what the implications of such experiments have in studying aging in higher eukaryotes. It further illustrates what factors influence longevity of yeast. The chronological life span method will be the one utilized because it has allowed for the identification and characterization of mutation bearing strains that has shown to live longer than the wildtype. This life-span method also bears more of a resemblance to aging in humans.