Cellular Competition and Aging — The National Institute of General Medical Sciences has awarded $1.2 million over four years to Dr. Nicholas Baker to study how DNA damage affects the aging process and age-related diseases such as dementia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. To gauge the effects of DNA alterations, Dr. Baker and colleagues will study fruit flies that have different genetic makeups, and determine how competition for individual cells to survive contributes to removal of damaged cells and development and maintenance of healthy organs. Dr. Baker is professor of genetics, of developmental and molecular biology and of ophthalmology and visual sciences and holds the Harold and Muriel Block Chair in Genetics.
Posted on: Monday, May 19, 2014