Please read the Fall 2008 syllabus --it contains answers to most initial questions.
Reading to be discussed in class 12/8/08: IGF-1 receptor regulates lifespan and resistance to oxidative stress in mice. PDF HTML
Reading assigned: Time to Talk SENS: Critiquing the Immutability of Human Aging (pdf)
Reading assigned: Position Statement on Human Aging (pdf)
Reading assigned: Murine Models of Life Span Extension. Quarrie and Riabowol, 2004, SAGE KE (pdf)
Reading assigned: Mitochondrial dysfunction as a cause of ageing (pdf)
Reading assigned: Handbook of Aging 5th ed., Ch15 (pdf)
Reading assigned: Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial DNA Mutation, and Apoptosis in Aging (pdf)
In the news: South African Woman Says She is 134 Years Old
According to the article, "her birth pre-dated record keeping" so her case likely will remain unverified.
Reading assigned: Okinawa Centenarian Study (main page introduces the study) Reading assigned: Okinawa Centenarian Study (highlights results of the study)
FYI: Quackwatch article on one of the anti-aging scammers
Reading assigned: National Institute on Aging Health Quackery acticle
FYI: Current treatments for Alzheimer's disease
FYI: 2008 GFP Nobel Prize background info
FYI: GFP info associated with the book Glowing Genes
FYI: GFP slides shown in class
Background reading:
Coronary Artery Disease (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Reading assigned: Handbook of the Biology of Aging, Ch 9: Apoptosis and Aging
Background reading:
What is cancer (National Cancer Institute
Reading assigned: Handbook of the Biology of Aging, Ch 8: Cell Proliferation in Mammalian Aging
Background reading:
Gene expression:
The role of a promoter in turning on a gene.
Genetic engineering basics:
Recombinant DNA Technology
Combining pieces of DNA
Polymerase chain reaction
HHMI site where I found these animations. Check out the videos and lectures too!
FYI: A Kentucky child has Hutchinson-Gilford progeria
Correction: In Hutchinson-Gilford progeria both autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive cases have been reported, the classic cases are autosomal dominant.
FYI: An OMIM entry on skin/hair/eye pigmentation
Reading assigned: Genetic alterations in accelerated ageing syndromes Do they play a role in natural ageing? Monika Puzianowska-Kuznicka. Jacek Kuznicki. 2005. IJBCB, 37; 947-60.
Reading assigned: OMIM entry for Werner syndrome
Reading assigned: OMIM entry for Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome
Discussed in class Friday 9/19: Laboratory Evolution of Postponed Senescence in Drosophila. MR Rose. Evolution. v38; 1004-10
Reading assigned: Aging A Natural History by Ricklefs and Finch, Ch 7 (pdf)
FYI: The talk.origins Index to Creationist Claims
Background reading: Modern Synthesis of Genetics and Evolution
Background reading: Wikipedia background on Alzheimer's disease
I would like you to read enough background to understand my discussion of aging in the immune system. Here are two sources, one from Wikipedia and one from the PubMed bookshelf.
Background reading: Wikipedia background on the adpative immune system
Background reading: PubMed bookshelf -> Immunobiology -> components of the immune system
FYI: PubMed books
FYI: Test your hearing!
Reading assigned: Aging A Natural History by Ricklefs and Finch, Ch 4 (pdf)
FYI: Oldest people
Things to know: Have a look at the human genome: Ensembl human genome browser
Reading assigned: Why We Age Ch 2 and Ch 3. (pdf)