GENES THAT CONTROL LONGEVITY IN PODOSPORA-ANSERINA

Two genetic methods were used to estimate the number of genes that pot entially modulate longevity in the filamentous fungus Podospora anseri na. First, life span of strains carrying mutations selected on criteri a unrelated to senescence was measured. Second, strains bearing random mutations were generated by insertional mutagenesis. Life span of the se strains was then measured. Surprisingly, both methods lead to the c onclusion that a large number of genes (between 600 and 3000) can modu late life span. Among, the mutations that affect longevity, 50% increa se life span and 50% diminish it.