About this Research Topic
Genetic theories of aging such as mutation accumulation (Medawar), antagonistic pleiotropy (Williams) and disposable soma (Kirkwood) have relatively broad support but do not specify mechanisms. Recent advances in the study of the biology of aging have provided additional insight into possible underlying and unifying aging mechanisms. The discovery of molecular clocks that correlate with chronological and physiological age, the ability to re-program certain cells to an apparently younger state, and the creation of minimal cells with only 473 genes provide new opportunities for the study of aging and the development of mechanistic theories.
Because there is no universally accepted definition of aging, an operational definition of aging is key to attempts to define aging mechanisms. Many definitions of aging involve an increased chance of death with increasing age (i.e., age-dependent increase in mortality rate), as well as decreased reproductive and regenerative capacity with age. However, other definitions are possible, including ones with features such as reduced homeostasis and/or functional reserve, accumulated damage, and other age-related alterations or deteriorations. This Research Topic seeks to recruit articles that define or test specific mechanistic theories of aging in relation to a specific operational definition of aging.
Appropriate article types include: Original Research, Systematic Review, Methods, Review, Mini Review, Hypothesis and Theory, Perspective, Brief Research Report, General Commentary, and Opinion.
Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
•Causes of death and the mechanisms for age-related increase in mortality.
•Mechanisms for age-related decrease in reproductive or repair capacity.
•Analysis of the “Hallmarks” of aging in terms of cause vs effect.
•Molecular-clock mechanisms.
•Asymmetric partitioning of cellular components and damage.
•Reprogramming and rejuvenation of cells, tissues, and organisms.
•Evolution of aging in biotic and pre-biotic systems.
•Replicative senescence and chronological aging in minimal and artificial cells.
•Targets of selection in the evolution of aging.
•Programmed and adaptive theories of aging.
•Role of programmed cell death in aging in unicellular and multicellular organisms.
•Sex differences in aging mechanisms.
•Stochasticity.
•Immune function.
•Maternal and paternal effects.
Because there is no universally accepted definition of aging, an operational definition of aging is key to attempts to define aging mechanisms. Many definitions of aging involve an increased chance of death with increasing age (i.e., age-dependent increase in mortality rate), as well as decreased reproductive and regenerative capacity with age. However, other definitions are possible, including ones with features such as reduced homeostasis and/or functional reserve, accumulated damage, and other age-related alterations or deteriorations. This Research Topic seeks to recruit articles that define or test specific mechanistic theories of aging in relation to a specific operational definition of aging.
Appropriate article types include: Original Research, Systematic Review, Methods, Review, Mini Review, Hypothesis and Theory, Perspective, Brief Research Report, General Commentary, and Opinion.
Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
•Causes of death and the mechanisms for age-related increase in mortality.
•Mechanisms for age-related decrease in reproductive or repair capacity.
•Analysis of the “Hallmarks” of aging in terms of cause vs effect.
•Molecular-clock mechanisms.
•Asymmetric partitioning of cellular components and damage.
•Reprogramming and rejuvenation of cells, tissues, and organisms.
•Evolution of aging in biotic and pre-biotic systems.
•Replicative senescence and chronological aging in minimal and artificial cells.
•Targets of selection in the evolution of aging.
•Programmed and adaptive theories of aging.
•Role of programmed cell death in aging in unicellular and multicellular organisms.
•Sex differences in aging mechanisms.
•Stochasticity.
•Immune function.
•Maternal and paternal effects.
Keywords: molecular damage, molecular clocks, reprogramming, evolution, mortality
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
