AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
2min snip
618: Methylation, Epigenetics & Longevity with Steve Horvath
Age Less / Live More
The Rise of Cancer Research
Recent advancements in genomics, such as CRISPR technology and DNA sequencing, along with funding support, have driven exceptional researchers to shift their focus from cancer to aging studies. This shift signifies a change in the perception of the aging field, moving away from skepticism towards potential breakthroughs. The rigorous reputation of cancer researchers has attracted top talent to explore aging effects, hinting at the possibility of benefiting from future advancements. With the ability to analyze DNA methylation at numerous locations, researchers can differentiate between chronological and biological ages, offering insights into potential aging markers.
00:00
Transcript
Episode notes
Speaker 2
lined up because there have been all these revolutions in genomics, you know. We have CRISPR technology, we have the DNA sequences, we have technologies for measuring so many epigenetic modifications way beyond methylation. There are many other modifications, you know. And also significant funding is going into this space. And so superb researchers have joined that effort, you know. So many people who used to be cancer researchers, they have changed their careers and now studying aging effects. I mention it because cancer researchers enjoy this reputation of being very rigorous, you know. I see. And so it, because in the past people looked at the aging field, the longevity field with suspicion, you know, the famous quote, snake oil, you know. But I think there has been a real seed change, you know. So I'm actually optimistic that maybe you and I can benefit from some breakthroughs, hopefully so. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1
From your research and your work, if you and I were both biopsied and no one could see us, they could only see our tissues and they were to analyze our, I don't know, our fluids or our muscle tissue or our brain or our serum levels, what would they look for to determine that you're roughly a decade older than me? And that's chronological age, of course. And what might they see in terms of biological age where perhaps you're closer to my age or I'm older than you or these kinds of biological markers? Yeah.
Speaker 2
Let me start with the easy answer. So when it comes to methylation, one can look at really millions of locations on the DNA molecule. The DNA contains these four letters, A, C, T,
Get the Snipd
podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered
AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any
moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Save any
moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share
& Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
Share
& Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode