Probing Pedomorphy and Prolonged Lifespan in Naked Mole-Rats and Dwarf Mice
Rochelle Buffenstein, Kaitlyn N. Lewis, Patrick A. Gibney, Vikram Narayan, Kelly M. Grimes, Megan Smith, Tzuhua D. Lin, Holly M. Brown‐Borg
Abstract
Pedomorphy, maintenance of juvenile traits throughout life, is most pronounced in extraordinarily long-lived naked mole-rats. Many of these traits (e.g., slow growth rates, low hormone levels, and delayed sexual maturity) are shared with spontaneously mutated, long-lived dwarf mice. Although some youthful traits likely evolved as adaptations to subterranean habitats (e.g., thermolability), the nature of these intrinsic pedomorphic features may also contribute to their prolonged youthfulness, longevity, and healthspan.
Topics & Concepts
Sexual maturityBiologyJuvenileLongevityZoologyEndocrinologyEcologyGeneticsGenetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model OrganismsEvolution and Paleontology StudiesPhysiological and biochemical adaptations