Link between aging and the nucleolus

Our ancient ancesters recognized events of nature, like the sporadic appearance of comets and lightning, the periodic display of stars, planets, and the moon, and biological processes like birth, development, and aging. The rapid progress of science has formulated a firm basis for understanding many of these phenomena, but aging has remained a conspicuous exception. Recently, however, a concerted effort has been made to get at the scientific basis of what cellular and molecular events might cause aging. This perspective will begin with an introduction into new approaches being used to study aging. The main body will focus on two independent studies in a model system that both point to the cell as a probable unit of aging and the nucleolus as a key player in the aging process. Finally, these recent findings will be placed into a context of human aging, which considers a possible interplay between telomeres and the nucleolus, as well as the relationship between dividing and nondividing (postmitotic) cells.