--- title: "New Gene Therapy Reverses Aging in Mice" description: "A team of Chinese scientists have developed a gene therapy that was shown to reverse some aspects of aging and extend lifespans in mice." date: "2021-01-20" modified: "2021-01-20" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/new-gene-therapy-reverses-aging-mice" categories: - "Gene Editing" - "Genetics" - "Health & Medicine" tags: - "ageing" - "anti ageing" - "gene therapy" --- # New Gene Therapy Reverses Aging in Mice ![A team of Chinese scientists have developed a gene therapy that was shown to reverse some aspects of aging and extend lifespans in mice.]() *\Image: Image via Pixabay/Victor Tangermann\* A team of Chinese scientists have developed a gene therapy that they say reverses some aspects of aging — and extend lifespans — in mice, [*Reuters* reports](). While plenty more research still needs to be done, the research sheds light on the underlying processes involved in aging, and reveals a twinkle of hope for a therapy that turns back the biological clock for human patients. The team's therapy, outlined in a [paper]() published in the journal *Science Translational Medicine* this month, involved deactivating a gene called KAT7, which was found to contribute to the aging of cells. "These mice show after 6-8 months overall improved appearance and grip strength and most importantly they have extended lifespan for about 25%," Qu Jing, co-supervisor of the project and aging specialist at the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), told *Reuters*. To make the changes to the mice's genes, the team used the popular gene-editing method CRISPR/Cas9 to identify about 100 genes that contribute to cellular aging, a process known as senescence. The team targeted KAT7 because they believe it contributes to senescence more than other aging-related genes. Inactivating the gene in human stem cells, human liver cells and mouse liver cells also didn't cause any observable side effects, according to the scientists. "It’s still definitely necessary to test the function of kat7 in other cell types of humans and other organs of mice and in the other pre-clinical animals before we use the strategy for human aging or other health conditions," Qu told *Reuters*. ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()