A new gene therapy has been shown to reverse some of the effects of ageing in mice and extend their lifespans by up to a quarter.
Chinese researchers used CRISPR-Cas9, a powerful gene-editing tool, to inactivate a gene called KAT7, which is a key contributor to cellular ageing.
An injection of a viral vector encoded for KAT7 reduced what is known as cellular senescence – the end of cell division, which organisms need to grow and replenish tissue.
Although experiments were conducted with mice in the lab, the experts think their findings may one day contribute to similar treatments for humans.