Dorian gray mice

Abstract

Newly generated transgenic mice appear to be able to grow indefinitely without ageing, yet with programmed death. This dramatic development is the work of several groups, and has been accomplished in three stages. First, a gene encoding tithonin was introduced from the carp (Cyprinus carpa), a freshwater fish that has the capacity for perpetual growth; the tith gene confers longevity on mice despite many symptoms of ageing. Second, by selecting tith mutants with more stable function at 37°C, the mice show no signs of senescence. Third, by crossing these animals with others expressing mutant p53 and can inducible bcl-2 gene, the mice can be triggered to die within 48 hours by apoptosis.