Abstract
A narrow definition of epigenetics is the inheritance of information that is not based on changes in base sequence. A wider definition is that epigenetics is the sum of all those mechanisms necessary for the unfolding of the genetic programme for development. The fact that identical twins develop to the indistinguishable phenotypes of young adults shows that epigenetic controls are highly accurate. However, as aging sets in their phenotypes often become distinguishable; nor do they have the same lifespans. The same is true of inbred mice kept in a uniform environment. This strongly suggests that stochastic events are an important component of aging, and many of these events could be epigenetic. Already there is evidence that patterns of DNA methylation and histone modification are subject to variation during aging. This can be referred to as epigenetic drift.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Ames, B.N., Saul, R.L., Schwiers, E., Adelman, R., and Cathcart. R. 1985. Oxidative damage as related to cancer and aging. The assay of thymine glycol, thymidine glycol and hydroxymethyl uracil in human and rat urine. In Molecular Biology of Aging, eds. R.S. Sohal, L.S. Birnbaum, and R.G. Cutler, pp. 137–144. New York, Raven Press.
Austad, S.N. 1997. Why We Age. New York, John Wiley.
Cattanach, B.L. 1974. Position effect variation in the mouse. Genet. Res. 23: 291–306.
Fairweather, S., Fox, M., and Margison, G.P. 1987.The in vitro lifespan of MRC-5 cells is shortened by 5-azacytidine induced demethylation. Exp. Cell Res. 168: 153–159.
Finch, C.E. 1990. Longevity, Senescence and the Genome. Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.
Fraga, M.F., Ballestar, E., Paz, M.F. et al. 2005. Epigenetic differences arise during the lifetime of monozygotic twins. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 102: 10604–10609.
Hayflick, L. 1994, 1996. How and Why We Age. New York, Ballantine Books.
Hayflick, L. 2007. Biological aging is no longer an unsolved problem. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 1100: 1–13.
Holliday, R. 1987. The inheritance of epigenetic defects. Science 238: 163–170.
Holliday, R. 1995. Understanding Ageing. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Holliday, R. 2001. Senescence of dividing somatic cells. In Stem Cell Biology, eds. D.R. Marshak, R.L. Gardner, and D. Gottleib. pp. 95–109. New York, Cold Spring Harbor Press.
Holliday. R. 2004. The multiple and irreversible causes of aging. J. Geront. Biol. Sci. 59A: 568–572.
Holliday, R. 2006. Aging is no longer an unsolved problem in biology. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 1067: 1–9.
Holliday, R. and Pugh, J.E. 1975. DNA modification mechanisms and gene activity during development. Science 187: 226–232.
Jablonka, E. and Lamb, M.J. 1995. Epigenetic Inheritance and Evolution. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Kanungo, M.S. 1975. A model for ageing. J. Theoret. Biol. 53: 253–261.
Lindahl, T. 1993. Instability and decay of the primary structure of DNA. Nature 362: 709–715.
Martin, G.M. 2005. Epigenetic drift in aging identical twins. Proc Acad. Nat. Sci. USA 102: 10413–10414.
Migeon, B.R., Axelman, J., and Beggs, A.H. 1988. Effect of ageing on reactivation of the human X-linked HPRT locus. Nature 335: 93–96.
Pagani, F., Toniolo, D., and Vergani, C. 1990. Stability of DNA methylation of X-chromosome genes during aging. Somatic Cell Mol. Genet. 16: 79–84.
Paulin, R.P., Ho, T., Balzer, H.J., and Holliday, R. 1998. Gene silencing by DNA methylation and dual inheritance in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Genetics 149: 1081–1088.
Reddel, R. 1998. A reassessment of the telomere hypothesis of senescence. BioEssays 20: 977–984.
Riggs, A.D. 1975. X inactivation, differentiation and DNA methylation. Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 14: 9–25.
Wareham, K.A., Lyon, M.F., Glenister P.H., and Williams, E.D. 1987. Age related reactivation of an X linked gene. Nature, 327: 725–727.
Wilson, V.L. and Jones, P.A. 1983. DNA methylation decreases in aging but not immortal cells. Science 220: 1055–1057.
Zurcher, C., van Zwieten, M.J., Sooleveld, H.A., and Hollander, C.F. 1982. Ageing research. In The Mouse in Biomedical Research. Vol. IV, eds. H.L. Foster, J.D. Small, and J.G. Fox, pp. 11–35. New York, Academic Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Holliday, R. (2010). Perspectives in Aging and Epigenetics. In: Tollefsbol, T.O. (eds) Epigenetics of Aging. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0639-7_25
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0639-7_25
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-0638-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-0639-7
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)