This gene was previously known to make people redhead
Almost every person has both acquaintances who look noticeably younger than their years, and those who, on the contrary, over time outwardly begin to look older than they really are. A new study by experts from the UK, the Netherlands and China has shown that at least some human genes play a role in this, namely a gene called MC1R.
Earlier, the MC1R gene was known to be responsible for red hair and pale skin. New research has shown that certain variations of it also help a person look very young for their age, or a year or two older than "normal."
The human genome is made up of about 25,000 genes, which in turn are made up of three billion DNA "letters", and small deviations in each thousand of these letters create small genetic variants, some of which have been examined by scientists in a new study. Discovery reports.
Experts have used information on the genome of 2.6 thousand elderly people. The experts also showed photographs of the study participants to other volunteers, so that they tried to guess their age, focusing only on their own subjective perception. Comparing the results, the scientists came to the conclusion that it was the variations in the MC1R gene that, more than the features of other genes, influenced whether a person looks old. In particular, it was found to be associated with the manifestation of such conspicuous signs of aging as wrinkles.
Experts emphasize that genetic factors remain just one of many aspects that affect how old a person looks - among others, the influence of sunlight, lifestyle differences, and so on. However, the researchers hope that their discovery will lead to a little more insight into what constitutes the aging process.
Genetics presented their scientific work on the pages of the journal Current Biology.
Dmitry Erusalimsky
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