# Determining the contribution of gene duplication to the resolution of healthy aging in long-lived species

> **NIH NIH R56** · STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO · 2021 · $313,448

## Abstract

Abstract
Project Title: Determining the contribution of gene duplication to the evolution of healthy aging in large,
long-lived species
Project Summary: A major constraint on the evolution of large body sizes and long lifespans in animals is
an increased risk of developing cancer. If all cells have a similar risk of malignant transformation and
equivalent cancer suppression mechanisms, organism with many cells should have a higher risk of
developing cancer than organisms with fewer cells. Similarly, organisms with long lifespans have more time
to accumulate cancer-causing mutations than organisms with shorter lifespans and therefore should be at
an increased risk of developing cancer, a risk that is compounded in large-bodied, long-lived organisms.
There are no correlations, however, between body size and cancer risk or lifespan and cancer risk across
species, this lack of correlation is often referred to as `Peto's Paradox'. The project proposes to use a
combination of comparative genomics to identify genes that may be associated with the evolution of large
bodies and long-lifespans in elephants, Bowhead whales, and Myotis bats. Candidate genes will be
functionally characterized in experimental studies to identify those that are causally related to the cancer
biology and ageing. These studies will identify the mechanisms by which elephants, Bowhead whales, and
Myotis bats evolved enhanced cancer resistance and provide new insights into the mechanisms of evolution
and the biology of cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10490489
- **Project number:** 1R56AG071860-01
- **Recipient organization:** STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO
- **Principal Investigator:** Vincent J. Lynch
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $313,448
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-30 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10490489

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10490489, Determining the contribution of gene duplication to the resolution of healthy aging in long-lived species (1R56AG071860-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10490489. Licensed CC0.

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