Ask A Scientist Molecular Biology Archive

name         Joseph
status       other
grade        other
location     IL

Question -   Since dogs are mammals with virtually all the same organs
 as humans, why do they age so quickly in comparison?
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Excellent question, and the answer is not known.  We do not know what
controls the aging process in different mammals that would allow one to live
to a maximum of around 100 years while another to live to a maximum of
around 20.  We have a lot of clues but no real logical sequence of controls
that regulate aging.  For certain, if we figure it out, it will be a very
complex interaction of many genes, RNA's enzymes etc.

pf
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