Genomics and Anti-aging – Making New Waves

Genomics and anti-aging is fast emerging as a hot topic of research among the scientific community. With more and more people getting interested about ways and means to retain the goodness of youth in terms of looks and vitality, the think-tank is getting ready to explore possibilities beyond the known frontiers of dieting, supplementation and exercises.

Aging is a natural phenomenon. Till now, nothing is known to man to stop aging. Aging brings certain changes in the body, most of which originate in the cellular level. The cell is the most fundamental unit in the body. With aging, cells begin to lose their power of replication and repair. That is when symptoms begin to show on the body.

The composition of cells and the characteristics of its constituents depend on a number of factors. Two important factors are genes and DNA. The former influence many traits that are thought to be of hereditary origin. For example, if your parents were obese, you have a natural tendency of being obese. If they had high blood pressure or were diabetic, you are also in the risk of developing similar conditions. DNA is a constituent of chromosome that is found in every cell, and is also responsible for numerous traits of an individual.

Genomics is basically the study of collective genetic material in an organism such as genes, DNA etc. Studies are going on to find out how genomics can be applied to alter cell characteristics and give the cell more power to withstand age-related decay, and be capable to repair itself when hit by the forces of aging and diseases.

One of the most important causes of faster aging is increased antioxidant activity. The cells are bombarded by free radicals, which are the by-products of metabolism. Genomics can contribute towards consolidating the cell structure and enabling it to withstand free radical hits and undergo lesser changes, thereby delaying the arrival of aging-related symptoms.