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Do bacteria die of old age?

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This is a interesting question and for a long time it was thought that they do not age. In the meantime there are some new papers which say that bacteria do indeed age. Aging can be defined as the accumulation of non-genetic damages (for example oxidative damage to proteins) over time. read more

However, bacteria may eventually cause death by old age in humans. If they do not quickly find “other employment” they die with their host. Serves them right! Bacteria do seem to hold primary responsibility for aging in humans. Commensual or gut bacteria get the first shot at all nutritional intake of the corporate human body. read more

In the meantime there are some new papers which say that bacteria do indeed age. Aging can be defined as the accumulation of non-genetic damages (for example oxidative damage to proteins) over time. If too much of these damages are accumulated, the cell will eventually die. read more

Old age in multicellular animals is a result of cellular senescence and years of oxidative and radiative damage to cells. Bacteria are also susceptible to damage, but since they're only one cell most don't consider death by broken plasmid to be death by old age. read more

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