Leibniz Institute
on Ageing
The mice storage room
at the Leibniz-Fritz
Lipmann Institute in
Jena, Germany’s first
centre for the study
of longevity, has
played a key role in
the identification of
a gene switch common
to mice and humans
that can produce a
protein that damages
metabolism and ages
mice faster – but
can be controlled
through a restricted
diet. Core research
at the institute (on
mice and fish) focuses
on the ageing of stem
cells – the basic,
unspecialised cells
present throughout
the body that
preserve organs and
tissues, but which
decline over time. �09-19-FTimmortality.indd 127 10/07/2019 22:29