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Genetic modifications during cellular aging

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Summary

We review evidence that biological aging is a genetic process related to development and cytodifferentiation and thus may involve alterations of DNA structure and gene expression. We conclude that although determined to a high degree aging also involves stochastic features which lead to progressive somatic cell diversification during the life span. These considerations may help to explain the unevenness of physiological decline and the clonal emergence of certain age-dependent diseases such as cancer.

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  1. Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Administration Medical Center, 72205, Little Rock, AR, USA

    Samuel Goldstein & Robert J. Shmookler Reis

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  1. Samuel Goldstein
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Goldstein, S., Shmookler Reis, R.J. Genetic modifications during cellular aging. Mol Cell Biochem 64, 15–30 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00420924

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