Immortality...with the help of flies

Swedish scientists have come one step closer to solving the question of immortality. Using the fruit fly family Drosophila scientists were able to extend the life spans of these flies by 50-60%. In life different stressors cause random errors to occur within cells. These stressors vary in timing and intensity. To maintain tissue health scientists needed to remove damaged cells and keep less affected cells.

   Researchers studied the genes inside fly organs to search for genes within the healthy organs that were less active than the same gene(s) in unhealthy organs. This lead to the discovery of the ahuizotl gene in the flies. Ahuizotl is a gene in the flies that, “selectively target less healthy or less fit cells to protect the integrity and health of the organs like the brain or the gut.” Normally there are only two of these genes in each cell, however by adding a third flies appeared healthier longer.

   Scientists have only observed the life extension in these organisms that have very short lives. There is no follow-up data regarding the state of the internal organs in the flies once the flies died. I would be curious to know if the addition of a third ahuizotl gene would cause the ahuizotl to preemptively act and destroy cells that were still viable, regardless if they were slightly damaged. This may result in the body not being able to replace cells as fast as the ahuizotl can destroy them. In animals with shorter life spans than mammals these observations may not be as obvious so I believe a more detailed report from 

further testing is needed.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/288234.php

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150115134624.htm