The gene that causes ageing

The new research, conducted in genetically modified mice, will help identify disorders in humans at an early stage and provide a suitable treatment for the same.

Mayo Clinic researchers in America have discovered a gene responsible for ageing and other related disorders like infertility, reproductive problems and cataracts in humans.

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The new research, conducted in genetically modified mice, will help physicians to identify disorders in humans at an early stage and to provide a suitable treatment for the same.

"Darren Baker in our laboratory found that mutant mice with low amounts of BubR1 protein live five times shorter than normal mice. They also develop a variety of age-related disorders at a very young age," said lead investigator Jan van Deursen.

"This prompted us to investigate whether BubR1 protein levels go down as normal mice age naturally, which is indeed what we found. Based on these findings, we believe it is the decline of this protein with time that may trigger some of the physiological effects of ageing. Given the age-dependent decline in ovarian BubR1 in mice, it seems reasonable to assume that this protein may contribute to age-related infertility and certain birth defects in humans," he added.

Researchers found that mice with low amounts of BubR1 also develop cataracts that are very similar to age-related cataracts in humans and about 20 to 25 percent of individuals at age 65 have cataracts of this type.