Biology of Ageing covers evolutionary and mechanistic theories of ageing; comparative biology of ageing; the new model organism genetics of lifespan (eg C....

Biology of Ageing covers evolutionary and mechanistic theories of ageing; comparative biology of ageing; the new model organism genetics of lifespan (eg C. elegans, Drosophila, mouse); methods in ageing research (eg functional genomic analysis); the biology of dietary restriction; cellular senescence and senotherapy, telomeres and cancer; ageing-related disease; the biology of insulin signalling, energy handling and associated diseases (eg diabetes and obesity); stem cell ageing; prospects for treatments for ageing; and social and ethical issues relating to research on ageing. As well as lectures there are three small group tutorials, some lead by researchers at UCL’s Institute of Healthy Ageing.

Learning objectives

To attain a good grasp of the various facets of the biology of ageing and longevity (evolutionary biology, biodemography, genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, endocrinology, etc) and the relationship between them.
	To understand the main theories of ageing, in terms of evolutionary and proximate mechanisms.
	To understand some of the major diseases of ageing, and their etiologies in the underlying biology of ageing.
	Discuss controversial ethical, philosophical and social issues relating to this work.
Indicative lecture topics – based on module content in 2021/22

Introduction to ageing
	Mechanistic theories of ageing
	Damage and maintenance
	Evolution of ageing
	Comparative biology of ageing
	The biology of immortality
	Genetics of ageing in model organisms
	Functional genomic analysis of ageing
	Dietary restriction
	Theories of ageing: Damage or programme?
	Programmatic ageing (advanced)
	Cellular senescence and cancer
	Genetics of human ageing and neurodegeneration
	Stem cells and ageing
	Immunosenescence
	Age-related metabolic diseases
	Inflammaging and age-related disease
	Ageing and the microbiome
	Psychosocial influences on ageing
	Translation: Treatments for human ageing
	Impact on human society of ageing research