In this episode, we speak with Dr. Stoeger about one of the most profound phenomena in biology—aging. As a critical factor influencing morbidity and mortality, understanding the molecular mechanisms behind aging is of paramount importance.

Dr. Stoeger's research presents an intriguing perspective on this issue, revealing a strong relationship between transcript length and the transcriptional changes seen in aging in both mice and humans. It appears that as organisms age, there's a relative decrease in the abundance of long transcripts.

We delve into three compelling pieces of evidence that underscore the biological significance of this discovery. Firstly, this association of transcript length with aging is prevalent in vertebrates. Secondly, various anti-aging interventions have been shown to counter this length association, pointing to possible therapeutic avenues. Lastly, we learn about an intriguing enrichment pattern—genes with the longest transcripts are linked to lifespan extension, while those with the shortest transcripts are often associated with a shortened lifespan.

Join us as we unravel the secrets of aging and explore the complex organization of transcriptomes. It's an intriguing journey into the world of aging biology that you won't want to miss!

Key Words: Aging, Transcriptome, Transcript Length, Lifespan, Anti-Aging Interventions, Genes, Mice, Humans, Long Transcripts, Short Transcripts.

Stoeger, T., et al. Aging is associated with a systemic length-associated transcriptome imbalance. Nat Aging 2, 1191–1206 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-022-00317-6