It has been possible to investigate for the first time at the cellular level, the influence of parental age on progeny life span, using Paramecium. As parental age increased, progeny life span decreased. The process of generating progeny clones from aging parents yielded paramecia with different life spans, allowing the study of the influence of parental life span on progeny life span. We found that parental life span was also a significant variable in the progeny life span. The theoretical basis for cellular aging and rejuvenation (the reinitiation of the life cycle) in paramecia is discussed in relation to the present data and previous studies.

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Copyright © 1974 Company of Biologists Ltd.
1974