The Regents of the University of California, Berkeley received a $687,288 Project Grant award from the National Institute on Aging (CFDA 93.866 - Aging Research) to conduct comparative analyses of somatic mutational processes in primates across different lifespans. The project aims to characterize somatic mutational landscapes in multiple tissue types from primate species spanning 70 million years of evolution, including marmosets, macaques, baboons, chimpanzees, and humans. This will involve using ultra-accurate nanopore sequencing to assess mutation rates, signatures, and clonal dynamics across the primate lifespan. The research will also seek to identify the genetic determinants underlying these somatic mutation phenotypes through phylogenetic genome-wide association studies. The awarded funds will support this comprehensive, multi-scale evolutionary comparison to reveal factors contributing to the diversity of primate lifespans and potentially identify targets for interventions to extend human healthspan.
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