Big Dogs Age Faster at the Molecular Level as Ancient Jumping Genes Lose Their Chemical Brakes Sooner, Dog Aging Project Study Finds
Nature World News | 14.10.2026 09:49
Large dogs show faster molecular aging than small dogs, and one of the clearest signs is the loss of chemical tags that normally keep ancient "jumping genes" quiet, according to a study of nearly 900 pet dogs published Oct. 8 in the journal Science. The work, led by researchers at Arizona State University and part of the Dog Aging Project, offers a possible molecular explanation for why a Great Dane rarely reaches 10 while a Chihuahua can live about twice as long.
