Although the soma ages during life, the germ line of multicellular organisms does not. Here it is shown that Caenorhabditis elegans mutants with increased longevity turn on gene expression programs in somatic tissue that are normally limited to the germ line; this may be the secret behind the increased health and lifespan of these mutant worms.
- Sean P. Curran
- Xiaoyun Wu
- Gary Ruvkun
