A Proposal to Sequence Genomes of Unique Interest for Research on Aging

THE recent sequencing of genomes, including the human genome, has revolutionized biomedical research. The projected genome sequencing of a large number of mammalian species, such as several primates, will offer extraordinary opportunities for studying genome evolution and to better understand the structure and dynamics of the human genome. Most target organisms for sequencing were chosen because of their usefulness as biomedical models or because of their phylogeny in relation to the human genome to address comparative and evolutionary issues (http://www.genome.gov/10002154). The biology of longevity, however, has been neglected in these considerations. Yet one of the most striking and mysterious differences among mammals is the wide variability in longevity (1). Understanding the differences in aging rates among species is a major biological puzzle. Herein we argue that studying genome evolution across species with different life spans has the potential to change our understanding of aging processes. Thus, longevity should also be taken into consideration when selecting target organisms for sequencing. As a first step, we propose the sequencing of three organisms of unique interest for aging research: the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) whose record longevity of 28.3 years makes it the longest-lived rodent (2), the white-faced capuchin monkey (Cebus capucinus) which can live > 50 years (3), and the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), the longest-lived mammal with estimates suggesting that it may live > 200 years (4).