Scientists – you can always count on them, hey. This time, the dudes in the white lab coats have isolated our body clock. If you’re imagining some sort of sinewy red tissue wrapped around a stopwatch – think again. You should be thinking double-helix – ring a bell? Yup, scientists have taken a closer look at our DNA, and have singled out the genes that determine the biological age of our tissues and organs.

This is where it gets a little weird. For a long time, medical professionals believed that all healthy organs aged at the same rate. This new discovery shows that to not be the case – with some organs ageing way faster, and some a lot slower. Apparently the age gap between healthy and diseased organs can be up to 10 years! The truth is, your appendix might be relatively young, while your lungs have become geriatrics. Weird.

‘The Clock’ has already turned up with some nifty results. Tests on a healthy heart (was it still being used?) showed it’s biological age to be none years younger than expected, despite the fact that it looked pretty worn. Even more intriguing, tests on female breast tissue showed that the breasts aged faster than any other organ in the body,appearing two years older on average (think tennis balls in a pair of socks).

Scientists hope that now that they have singled out these genes, that they will be able to understand the ageing process a little better – and maybe even create medication that slows it down.

So you wont be able to be young again – but hey,your breast will stay perky until you’re well over 100. Decent.

[Source : The Guardian]