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DNA sequenced of woman who lived to 115 | DNA sequenced of woman who lived to 115 |
(4 days later) | |
By Helen Briggs Health editor, BBC News website | By Helen Briggs Health editor, BBC News website |
The entire DNA sequence of a woman who lived to 115 has been pieced together by scientists. | The entire DNA sequence of a woman who lived to 115 has been pieced together by scientists. |
The woman, who was the oldest in the world at the time of her death, had the mind of someone decades younger and no signs of dementia, say Dutch experts. | The woman, who was the oldest in the world at the time of her death, had the mind of someone decades younger and no signs of dementia, say Dutch experts. |
The study, reported at a scientific conference in Canada, suggests she had genes that protected against dementia. | The study, reported at a scientific conference in Canada, suggests she had genes that protected against dementia. |
Further work could give clues to why some people are born with genes for a long life, says a UK scientist. | Further work could give clues to why some people are born with genes for a long life, says a UK scientist. |
It is more than 10 years since the first draft of the human genetic code was revealed. | It is more than 10 years since the first draft of the human genetic code was revealed. |
Since then, perhaps a few hundred individuals have had their genes mapped in full, as the technology to "read" DNA gets better and cheaper. | Since then, perhaps a few hundred individuals have had their genes mapped in full, as the technology to "read" DNA gets better and cheaper. |
The woman, whose identity is being kept secret, and is known only as W115, is the oldest person to have her genes mapped. | The woman, whose identity is being kept secret, and is known only as W115, is the oldest person to have her genes mapped. |
She donated her body to medical science, allowing doctors to study her brain and other organs, as well as her entire genetic code. | She donated her body to medical science, allowing doctors to study her brain and other organs, as well as her entire genetic code. |
Dr Henne Holstege, of the Department of Clinical Genetics at the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, says she appeared to have some rare genetic changes in her DNA. | Dr Henne Holstege, of the Department of Clinical Genetics at the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, says she appeared to have some rare genetic changes in her DNA. |
It is not yet clear what role they carry out, but it appears there is something in her genes that protects against dementia and other diseases of later life. | It is not yet clear what role they carry out, but it appears there is something in her genes that protects against dementia and other diseases of later life. |
Dr Holstege told the BBC: "We know that she's special, we know that her brain had absolutely no signs of Alzheimer's. | Dr Holstege told the BBC: "We know that she's special, we know that her brain had absolutely no signs of Alzheimer's. |
"There must be something in her body that is protective against dementia. | "There must be something in her body that is protective against dementia. |
"We think that there are genes that may ensure a long life and be protective against Alzheimer's." | "We think that there are genes that may ensure a long life and be protective against Alzheimer's." |
Proof of principle | Proof of principle |
W115 was born prematurely and was not expected to survive. | W115 was born prematurely and was not expected to survive. |
But she lived a long and healthy life, and entered a care home at the age of 105. | But she lived a long and healthy life, and entered a care home at the age of 105. |
She eventually died from a stomach tumour, having been treated for breast cancer at the age of 100. | She eventually died from a stomach tumour, having been treated for breast cancer at the age of 100. |
A test of her mental skills at the age of 113 showed she had the performance of a woman aged 60-75 years. | A test of her mental skills at the age of 113 showed she had the performance of a woman aged 60-75 years. |
At post-mortem examination, doctors found no evidence of dementia or the furring of the arteries seen in heart disease. | At post-mortem examination, doctors found no evidence of dementia or the furring of the arteries seen in heart disease. |
They are making her gene sequence available to other researchers, to further the cause of science. | They are making her gene sequence available to other researchers, to further the cause of science. |
The work, which has yet to be published, was presented at the American Society of Human Genetics annual meeting in Montreal, Canada. | The work, which has yet to be published, was presented at the American Society of Human Genetics annual meeting in Montreal, Canada. |
Commenting on the study, Dr Jeffrey Barrett, of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, UK, said it was an important proof of principle. | |
He told the BBC: "Sequencing the genome of the world's oldest woman is an important starting point to understand how DNA variation relates to the process of having a long, healthy life. | He told the BBC: "Sequencing the genome of the world's oldest woman is an important starting point to understand how DNA variation relates to the process of having a long, healthy life. |
"But in order to really understand the underlying biology of living a long, healthy life, we will need to look at the DNA sequence of hundreds or thousands of people." | "But in order to really understand the underlying biology of living a long, healthy life, we will need to look at the DNA sequence of hundreds or thousands of people." |