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rDNA Copy Number Variation and Methylation During Normal and Premature Aging

4 months 2 weeks ago
Ribosomal RNA is the main component of the ribosome, which is essential for protein synthesis. The diploid human genome contains several hundred copies of the rDNA transcription unit (TU). Droplet digital PCR and deep bisulfite sequencing were used to determine the absolute copy number (CN) and the methylation status of individual rDNA TU in blood samples of healthy individuals. The absolute CN ranged from 243 to 895 (median 469). There was no difference in absolute CN between males and females...
Alva B C Geisen

Lifetime age-related changes in clinical laboratory results, aging clocks and mortality predictors in 2412 Golden Retrievers

4 months 2 weeks ago
In this study, we investigated age-related changes in clinical laboratory data and their association with mortality in dogs from the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. By analyzing complete blood count (CBC) and biochemistry data from 2'412 Golden Retrievers over 16,678 visits, we observed significant changes during the first 2 years of life and throughout aging. Based on these observations, we developed a biological aging clock using a LASSO model to predict age based on blood markers, achieving...
Kevin Perez

Life history is a key driver of temporal fluctuations in tropical tree abundances

4 months 2 weeks ago
The question of what mechanisms maintain tropical biodiversity is a critical frontier in ecology, intensified by the heightened risk of biodiversity loss faced in tropical regions. Ecological theory has shed light on multiple mechanisms that could lead to the high levels of biodiversity in tropical forests. But variation in species abundances over time may be just as important as overall biodiversity, with a more immediate connection to the risk of extirpation and biodiversity loss. Despite the...
Kenneth Jops

A tough soft-hard interface in the human knee joint driven by multiscale toughening mechanisms

4 months 2 weeks ago
Joining heterogeneous materials in engineered structures remains a significant challenge due to stress concentration at interfaces, which often leads to unexpected failures. Investigating the complex, multiscale-graded structures found in animal tissue provides valuable insights that can help address this challenge. The human meniscus root-bone interface is an exemplary model, renowned for its exceptional fatigue resistance, toughness, and interfacial adhesion properties throughout its lifespan....
Wenyue Li