2Species Selection in Comparative Studies of Aging and Antiaging Research

A great range of life histories are observed among mammals. Understanding why different species age at different rates may provide clues about the mechanistic and genetic basis of aging. This work focuses on animal species and their use in comparative studies of aging. Firstly, I debate how to compare aging across different species, including physiological parameters and statis-tical analyses. Afterwards, a selection of species for use in the comparative biology of aging is suggested. Taking into account that the ultimate aim of research on aging is to benefit people, my selection is largely based on primates. Primates feature such a vast range of aging phenotypes that comparative studies of aging need not employ other more distant species, except perhaps a few rodents. A number of animal species that may serve as models of antiaging strategies are also presented. Examples include species that appear not to age, such as some turtles, and animals featuring regenerative mechanisms absent from humans. Studying the genetic and molecular basis of these traits may have potential implications for antiaging research. Sequencing the genome of these species should then be a priority