EM2405D “Human Evolution in the 21st Century: A Novel Genetic Variant Reveals a Contemporary Heterozygous Advantage” (IM GR-051724)
Purpose and Overview
We will discuss the evidence that PAI-1 is both a marker and a mediator of senescence and a key driver of aging-related morbidities. Findings from translational research and human studies will be reviewed. The finding that a loss of function mutation in the gene that codes for PAI-1 appears to protect humans from biological aging will be reviewed in some detail. Finally, we will present the concept that this novel genetic variant provides a heterozygous advantage and may provide a evolutionary advantage over time.
Target Audience
UT Southwestern faculty, fellows, residents and medical students, community physicians, nurse clinicians, physician assistants and nurses.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, the participant should be able to:
- Appreciate the pleiotropic biology of PAI-1 and its role in health and disease.
- Know that there are loss of function variants in human populations that provide protection against biological aging and other aging-related morbidities.
- There are "natural experiments" in isolated human populations in the 21s century that meet Darwinian criteria for evolutionary advantages.
Douglas E. Vaughan, M.D.
Director, Potocsnak Longevity Institute
Irving S. Cutter Professor of Medicine Emeritus
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Available Credit
- 1.00 AMA
Price
Required Hardware/software
Activities should be run with recent versions of common browsers, including Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google Chrome