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Epigenetic Drift and Aging

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Epigenetics of Aging

Abstract

Epigenetics of aging is an emerging field that promises exciting revelations in the near future. Epigenetic pathways, including DNA methylation and histone modification, are determinants of normal development and can change during aging. Some of the epigenetic alterations described during aging, as hypermethylation at specific promoters and decrease of global DNA methylation, are also associated with tumour development. The epigenetic changes occurring during development and aging can be stochastic or depend on environmental factors. Future challenges in the field involve the determination of the precise molecular mechanisms that create age-dependent epigenetic variation and how these epigenetic changes affect the aging phenotype.

*Both authors contributed equally

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology and Oncology, National Center for Biotechnology, CNB-CSIC, Cantoblanco, Madrid, E-28049, Spain

    Ester Lara*, Vincenzo Calvanese* & Mario F. Fraga

  2. Laboratorio de Epigenética del Cáncer, Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain

    Mario F. Fraga

Authors
  1. Ester Lara*
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  2. Vincenzo Calvanese*
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  3. Mario F. Fraga
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mario F. Fraga .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1300 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL, 35294-1170, USA

    Trygve O. Tollefsbol

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Lara*, E., Calvanese*, V., Fraga, M.F. (2010). Epigenetic Drift and Aging. In: Tollefsbol, T.O. (eds) Epigenetics of Aging. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0639-7_14

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