Cynthia Kenyon
Cynthia Kenyon
Cynthia Jane Kenyonis an American molecular biologist and biogerontologist known for her genetic dissection of aging in a widely used model organism, the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionScientist
CountryUnited States of America
long normal mutants
If I were a worm, I would rather be the long-lived mutant than the normal worm, that's for sure.
change mutant worms
With worms you can just change genes at random and see if you can find a mutant that does what you want it to do.
ideas unexpected ageing
The idea that ageing was subject to control was completely unexpected.
normal mutation worms
In the early '90s, we discovered mutations that could double the normal life span of worms.
use way aging
If the aging process is controlled in a similar way in worms and humans, then we can use what we learn about worms to speed our study of higher organisms.
age disease increase
The hope is that if we can increase youthfulness, we can postpone age-related diseases.
made escalators
It was like stepping on to an escalator; I could do anything. I was just made for science.
numbers risk age
Age is the single largest risk factor for an enormous number of diseases. So if you can essentially postpone aging, then you can have beneficial effects on a whole wide range of disease.
careers two healthy
You could have two completely different careers if you could stay healthy to 90. How fascinating that would be.
thrill kicks learning-new-things
I have always gotten a thrill, a kick, from learning new things.
nice people too-short
Life's too short to not be around nice people.
ideas biology logical
I loved the idea that biology was logical.
running country people
Generally, older people in their fifties, sixties, and seventies are running most countries and are CEOs of corporations. Which isn't to say there aren't entrepreneurs, but if the young were better in every respect, there'd be no reason for the old. Our life span reflects our particular life strategy.
believe heart healthy
Maybe one day we will be able to take a pill that keeps us young and healthy much longer. I believe in my heart that this will happen.