Scientists have reached a strange clue by researching 800 dogs Why do these breeds die earlier?

A new study of the genes of 864 dogs shows that large dogs may age faster; A finding that can help to better understand the aging process in dogs and even humans.

Sefir Arjan, Farkhunde Rafai: In the animal world, large size is usually associated with longer life; But dogs do not follow this rule. Research shows that large dogs usually have shorter lives than their smaller relatives and are more prone to age-related diseases. Now researchers have found a new clue to the genetic mechanism of this difference, which is related to sections of DNA that have the ability to move around in the genome.

According to Popular Science, a group of biologists, in a study published in the scientific journal Science, examined the genetic data of 864 dogs to better understand the cause of the relationship between body size and the speed of aging. The results of this study show that the difference in the control of genetic mutant elements may be one of the effective factors in the shorter life of large breeds.

These elements, called "jump genes," are pieces of genetic material that can make copies of themselves in different parts of the genome. The researchers specifically focused on a group of these elements called LINE1. Uncontrolled activity of these elements can damage DNA and increase the likelihood of genetic instability, disease and cancer.

Why do big dogs age faster?

The body uses a mechanism called DNA methylation to inhibit the activity of these elements. In this process, chemical changes help regulate gene activity without changing the original DNA sequence. With age, part of this control is lost and the jumping elements have more opportunity to work.

The researchers found that more than 40% of the LINE1-related parts of the genome lose their methylation with age. This process was faster in large dogs; So that the reduction of LINE1 methylation in them was reported to be 35% higher than that of small dogs.

According to the researchers, this finding suggests that reduced control over mutant genes may be at least part of the cause of faster aging in large dogs. However, it is still unclear whether the activity of these elements directly causes aging or is merely related to it.

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A clue to understand the mechanism of aging in humans

The importance of this research is not only limited to the health of dogs. Dogs and humans have lived in common environments for thousands of years and experience many environmental factors affecting health and aging. Understanding the genetic mechanisms of aging in dogs may open new avenues for studying similar changes in humans.

Researchers hope that in the future, a better understanding of these genetic elements and their control mechanisms will help to develop methods to increase the length of a healthy life span in humans; However, such an application is still under scientific investigation.