The age-1 and daf-2 genes function in a common pathway to control the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans.

Recessive mutations in two genes, daf-2 and age-1, extend the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans significantly. The daf-2 gene also regulates formation of an alternative developmental state called the dauer. Here we asked whether these two genes function in the same or different lifespan pathways.