Long Life ( Or Not ) Can Known Through Computer

A genetic test that tells if you will be more than a hundred years old , has been developed by scientists.

As reported the Daily Mail, the computer program will provide the possibility of individuals reaching the age of 100 years - and tell them the possibility that smaller or larger than average.

The inventors of the leading universities of Boston University ( USA) , said that with this information , they are not endowed with a mixture of " hundred-year -old gene "can make lifestyle changes in order to maximize the time owned.

But it also raises questions breakthrough moral about telling effect the fate of people - and who is responsible if the test results are wrong.

There is also concern that insurance companies and pension can use that information to change the premiums and payments.

The researchers studied DNA from 1600 centenarians ( people aged more than 100 years) , including 119 -year -old , and compare them with other DNA . There are 150 genetic changes that tend to exist in the group of long-lived . They can be split into 19 groups , or ' genetic signature ' , reports the journal " Science " is .

Researcher Dr Paola Sebastiani said : " Some of the signature length is correlated with age, other signatures that correlate with disease incidence with age such as dementia or heart disease . "

Understanding how genes preserve life or protect against disease can lead to the discovery of new drugs to combat diseases.

The investigators are completing work on a computer program that can determine whether a person tends to live long - provided they have information about their genetic code .

This program in the next few days may be available to other scientists , before its public release .

The researchers did not patent information , which means there is no obstacle if the biotechnology company to create a commercial device that is easy to use. There is concern about the reaction from people who were given the news that their lives can be longer or shorter than they expected.

Method, the researchers only 77 percent accurate - means that almost a quarter of those tested are considered not to live to 100 years , when they could .

One in 15 has a combination of genes to live to be 100 , but only one of 600 who will actually live up to 100 years , meaning that health care factors , maintaining a diet and exercise is very important.

Dr Muireann uigley , bioetikis from Manchester University warned : ' Got a gene such as in it does not mean you are ' immune 'from an accident or collapse . "

But , Professor Julian Savulescu , ethicist at Oxford University , said : "I'm sure is very important if someone has this information. Although you can not change the fact that given this information, you will be helpful in planning for life . "

" If you're going to die early, you want to have children early, will not make a prolonged retirement plan , and you 'll want to get things done early. "