Abstract: A mouse model for mammalian aging is disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a mouse having a genomic mutation in the exonuclease domain II (ExoII) of a mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma (POlG) gene, wherein the mutation leads to high levels of mutations in polymerase mtDNA.

Abstract: A mouse model for mammalian aging is disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a mouse having a genomic mutation in the exonuclease domain II (ExoII) of a mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma (PolG) gene, wherein the mutation leads to high levels of mutations in polymerase mtDNA.

Abstract: A method of measuring the biological age of a multicellular organism is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a sample of nucleic acid isolated from the organism's organ, tissue or cell, wherein the nucleic acid is RNA or a cDNA copy of RNA and (b) determining the gene expression pattern of at least one of the genes selected from the group consisting of M21050, Z49204, U49430, K02782, X58861, X66295, M22531, X67809, U19118, M64086, M63695, U39066, X92590, X56518, AA182189, X16493, U20344, X16834, X82648, D00754, D16313, L38971 and X15789.