Animals live longer in oxygen deficit environment, scientists say
Updated: 2016-09-13 15:24
By Guo Kai(chinadaily.com.cn)
|
||||||||
Hypoxia, or a deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues of the body, will cause animals in both laboratory and nature to have longer life spans than their peers in normal conditions, scientists from the Kunming Institute of Zoology under Chinese Academy of Sciences found.
Observations showed that the life spans of animals, such as caenorhabditis elegans, have extended when they are subjected to hypoxic conditions in the laboratory.
In addition, wild mammals with hypoxic habitats, such as the naked mole rat that lives in burrow, and whales that must hold their breath as they dive, seem to live longer.
Scientists tried to figure out the relationship between the genetic difference and the longevity by researching on the domestic animals living on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with adaptive characteristics.
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the "third pole of the earth," has low oxygen, strong radiation and low temperature, a typical place with the natural hypoxic environment.
They found that the Tibetan mastiff has genes of hypoxia inducible pathway and chicken there have evolved to a potential genetic mechanism with calcium signal pathway to adapt to the plateau's conditions.
Scientists also discovered that the aging genes in Tibetans and plateau animals have fast evolution and different expressions comparing with those at lower altitude areas.
However, the rate of Tibetans aged above 60 was lower than that of people living at lower altitudes according to the national population census in 2010.
Zhang Yaping, a scientist who took part in the research, said that it might be caused by poor living and medical conditions.
Zhang pointed out that the census did show that the rate of Tibetans aged above 100 is higher than that of people at lower altitudes, which is echoed with "long life villages" found in the Andres area.
- Company rejects the 'longevity risk'
- Company rejects the 'longevity risk'
- Greenland shark sets longevity record
- Simple life 'secret' of longevity for Sichuan centenarians
- Indonesia's oldest living person attributes longevity to wholeheartedness
- One thousand ways to write longevity
- Uncovering secrets of longevity
- Hezhou in Guangxi, the 1st longevity city in China
- Tian'e nominated for 'Chinese Longevity Village' title
- Britain's ex-leader Cameron resigns as lawmaker
- US flies B-1B bombers over ROK after DPRK's nuke test
- S Korea jolted by biggest-ever earthquake, tremor felt nationwide
- Cuba, US hold first talks on intellectual property
- Princeton, Cal top college rankings
- Clinton says may restart campaigning in a 'couple of days'
Orphaned Chinese marries American at SOS village
French royal porcelains shine in Xi'an
How to raise great kids? A case for twin girls
Photographers capture the fun side of a full moon
Top 10 most valuable companies in China
US marks 15th anniversary of 9/11 attacks
Beautiful, smart robots shine at expo in Nanjing
In pics: Top 10 most global cities in 2016
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
![]()
|
![]()
|
![]()
|
![]()
|
![]()
|
![]()
|
Today's Top News
Trump outlines anti-terror plan, proposing extreme vetting for immigrants
Phelps puts spotlight on cupping
US launches airstrikes against IS targets in Libya's Sirte
Ministry slams US-Korean THAAD deployment
Two police officers shot at protest in Dallas
Abe's blame game reveals his policies failing to get results
Ending wildlife trafficking must be policy priority in Asia
Effects of supply-side reform take time to be seen
US Weekly
![]()
|
![]()
|