Understanding the biology of longevity and ageing using a nematode model While developmental genetics has been an area of intensive study for many years, investigation of the role of genes in determining longevity and ageing only recently began. An ideal model organism in which to study ageing is the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. This species has well-developed genetics, its 97,000,000 base pair genome is fully sequenced, and its life span is a mere 2-3 weeks. Most importantly, numerous mutations have been identified in C. elegans which alter the rate of ageing, with some mutants living more than five times as long as wild-type worms. It is hoped that by understanding ageing in a simple animal like C. elegans we will be able to unravel the mystery of human ageing, which increases risk of a wide range of diseases, from cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes, to Alzheimer's disease and cancer.

A major focus of current work in this laboratory is understanding the genes and biochemical processes by which reduced insulin/IGF-1 signalling and dietary restriction increase lifespan. Other interests include sex differences in the biology of ageing, evolutionary conservation of mechanisms of ageing, and bioethical implications of ageing research. Our work is funded by the BBSRC, the European Union and the Wellcome Trust.

Research Team

Dominic Alcock, Undergraduate technical assistant
Catherine Au, Research Technician, email: catherine.au@ucl.ac.uk
Alex Benedetto, Postdoc, email: a.benedetto@ucl.ac.uk
Filipe Cabreiro, Postdoc, email: f.cabreiro@ucl.ac.uk
Cassandra Coburn, Graduate student, email: c.coburn@ucl.ac.uk
Yila de la Guardia, Graduate student, email: yila.guardia.10@ucl.ac.uk
David Gems (PI), Reader in the Biology of Ageing, email: david.gems@ucl.ac.uk
Michele Riesen, Postdoc, email: m.riesen@ucl.ac.uk
Jennifer Tullet, Postdoc, email: j.tullet@ucl.ac.uk
Elly Tyler, Masters student, email: eleanor.tyler.11@ucl.ac.uk

Positions available

April 30th 2012. Several new postdoc positions working on the biology of ageing in C. elegans will be available in the Gems lab, starting from Autumn 2012. Interested applicants are welcome to email expressions of interest and CVs to David Gems, david.gems@ucl.ac.uk. More details of these positions will be posted here soon.

Recent events

March 1st 2012 - Publication in PLoS Genetics of a new study on the control of iron homeostasis in C. elegans, see Publications

Short film about Gems lab work