Pregnancy as a model for aging.

The process of aging can be defined as the sum accumulation of damages and changes in metabolism during the life of an organism, due to both genetic predisposition and stochastic damage. During the gestational period and following parturition, similar damage can be seen due to the strenuous effect on the maternal body, exhibited on both the physiological and cellular level. In this review, we will focus on the similar physiological and cellular characteristics exhibited during pregnancy and aging, including induction of and response to oxidative stress, inflammation, and degradation of telomeres.

Senescence and Longevity of Sea Urchins.

Sea urchins are a minor class of marine invertebrates that share genetic similarities with humans. For example, the sea urchin species is estimated to have 23,300 genes in which the majority of vertebrate gene families are enveloped. Some of the sea urchin species can demonstrate extreme longevity, such as , living for well over 100 years.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling.

Over the past century, the life expectancy in industrialized countries has rapidly risen by over 30 years due to improvements in standards of medical care, sanitation, and lifestyle. Estimation of life expectancy has traditionally been viewed through a lens of epidemiology and public health. However, this data, while considered the "gold standard" of measuring healthy life expectancy, may soon find itself redundant in the face of advancing medical technology.