Wasps May Hold the Secret to Slowing Down the Ageing Process
By Science Correspondent
Scientists have discovered that jewel wasps can slow down their biological rate of ageing.
A study of jewel wasps, known for their distinctive metallic colours, has shown that they can undergo a kind of natural ‘time-out’ as larvae before emerging into adulthood with this surprising advantage.
The groundbreaking study by scientists at the University of Leicester, has now been published in the journal, PNAS.
It reveals that this pause in development within the wasp dramatically extends lifespan and decelerates the ticking of the so-called “epigenetic clock” that marks molecular ageing.
Ageing isn’t just about counting birthdays, it’s also a biological process that leaves molecular fingerprints on our DNA.
One of the most accurate markers of this process is the epigenetic clock, which tracks chemical changes in DNA, known as methylation, that accumulate with age.
But what happens if we alter the course of development itself?
To find out, a team at the University of Leicester including first author PhD student Erin Foley, Dr Christian Thomas, Professor Charalambos Kyriacou, and Professor Eamonn Mallon, from the department of Genetics, Genomics and Cancer Sciences, turned to Nasonia Vitripennis, also known as the jewel wasp.
This tiny insect is becoming a powerful model for ageing research because, unlike many other invertebrates, it has a functioning DNA methylation system, just like humans, and a short lifespan that makes it ideal to study.
The researchers exposed jewel wasp mothers to cold and darkness, triggering a hibernation-like state in their babies called diapause.
This natural “pause button” extended the offsprings’ adult lifespan by over a third.
Even more remarkably, the wasps that had gone through diapause aged 29% more slowly at the molecular level than their counterparts.
Their epigenetic clocks ticked more leisurely, offering the first direct evidence that the pace of biological ageing can be developmentally tuned in an invertebrate.
“It’s like the wasps who took a break early in life came back with extra time in the bank,” said Evolutionary Biology Professor Eamonn Mallon, senior author on the study.
“It shows that ageing isn’t set in stone, it can be slowed by the environment, even before adulthood begins.”
While some animals can slow ageing in dormant states, this study is the first to show that the benefits can persist after development resumes. What’s more, the molecular slowdown wasn’t just a random effect, it was linked to changes in key biological pathways that are conserved across species, including those involved in insulin and nutrient sensing. These same pathways are being targeted by anti-ageing interventions in humans.
What makes this study novel and surprising is that it demonstrates a long-lasting, environmentally triggered slowdown of ageing in a system that’s both simple and relevant to human biology.
It offers compelling evidence that early life events can leave lasting marks not just on health, but on the pace of biological ageing itself.
Professor Mallon added: “Understanding how and why ageing happens is a major scientific challenge. This study opens up new avenues for research, not just into the biology of wasps, but into the broader question of whether we might one day design interventions to slow ageing at its molecular roots. With its genetic tools, measurable ageing markers, and clear link between development and lifespan, Nasonia vitripennis is now a rising star in ageing research.”
“In short, this tiny wasp may hold big answers to how we can press pause on ageing.”
Funding for the study was provided by The Leverhulme Trust and The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
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