Effects of Catalase Over-expression on Aging :: Biology Age

Introduction What exactly causes the infirmities of old age? According to the free-radical theory of develop, aerophilic damage caused by ROS (reactive atomic number 8 species) is the main culprit. This paper focuses on a study that partly supports this theory by showing that murine spiritedness span can be extended by an overexpression of human catalase in mitochondria. The specific paper that this is based on is Extension of Murine livelihood Span by Overexpression of Catalase Targeted to Mitochondria by Samuel E. Schriner et al. Another paper that was used in the construction of this paper is The Anti-Aging Sweepstakes Catalase Runs for the ROSes by Richard A. Miller. These scientific papers are summaries of the experiments carried protrude by Schriner and his group dealing with the topic of catalase-overexpression and its loading on murine lifespan. However, it is important to remember that this is a topic still under much debate. Though these experiments do not provide us with a definat cureall for aging, it is believed by many that the data aquired from them point us to one of the major culprits of aging and age related diseases, ROSs. Why the fuss over R.O.S.? Attempts to prolong higher rank have been a major endeavor in science and some(prenominal) hypotheses have been proposed about the major causes. Scientists have focused on the share of reactive oxygen species in longevity through investigations using mice models. activated oxygen species role in aging processes is also known as the free radical theory of aging. Scientists have found that reactive oxygen species attack molecules of biological systems and are the main cause for the functional sort out of organ systems that lead to eventual death. Various experiments were conducted to investigate the role of response oxygen species using transgenic mouse models. Specifically, the purpose of these experiments are to determine if minimizing the level of ROS (reac tive oxygen species) in certain organelles in mice have any effect on the overall health and lifespan of the mouse. The hypothesis was tested by amplifying a certain gene in mouse DNA that expresses catalase, an enzyme that breaks obliterate the ROSs. However, prior to beginning the experiments, transgenic mice are necessary for the experimentation.Development of a Transgenic filch A transgenic mouse is a mouse that has had a specific gene, in this case the human catalase gene, inserted into its genome.