From Kathy Archibald
Much of your article on ageing was devoted to recounting discoveries made in
mice as if they are miniature humans. Phrases such as: “of course, people are
not big worms” and “a macaque is not a person” do not make the differences
clear.
For example, according to the same article, mutations in the IGF-1
gene in mice boost lifespan by 80 per cent, while in people they lead to
diabetes and a shorter lifespan. It is high time the animal model paradigm was
challenged.
Snape, Suffolk
