The primary analyses did not demonstrate statistically significant differences in STR-based genetic diversity between young and elderly groups, though slight trends toward decreased heterozygosity and increased allelic dominance were noted in the elderly population.
No statistically significant differences in heterozygosity or allelic dominance were observed between young and elderly populations.
A slight trend toward decreased heterozygosity and increased allelic dominance was noted in the elderly population.
Some STR loci were found to be located in genomic proximity to genes annotated in aging-related KEGG pathways.
STRs, traditionally considered neutral genetic markers, were examined in relation to broader genomic processes associated with aging.
This research examined whether genetic variation at specific repetitive DNA sequences called short tandem repeats (STRs) — the same markers used in forensic DNA profiling — differs between younger adults (ages 21–43) and older adults (ages 65 and above). The study analyzed DNA profiles from 400 people and measured indicators of genetic diversity, including how varied individuals' genetic markers were and whether certain versions of these markers tended to dominate. The main finding was that there was no statistically significant difference between the two age groups in any of these diversity measures. However, the researchers did observe a subtle trend: elderly individuals showed slightly lower genetic diversity and slightly more dominance by single alleles at these loci, which would be consistent with biological theories about aging involving reduced diversity and clonal expansion. Additionally, when the researchers mapped where these STR markers sit in the human genome, they found that some are located near genes involved in aging-related biological pathways — though this is based purely on physical proximity in the genome and does not prove any functional connection. This research suggests that while STR-based genetic diversity does not clearly distinguish young from elderly individuals in a statistically meaningful way in this sample, the subtle trends observed and the genomic location of some markers near aging-related genes are worth exploring further. The authors emphasize that these findings are preliminary and hypothesis-generating only, and that much larger studies combining genetic data with functional biological measurements would be needed to determine whether STR variation has any real relationship to the biology of aging.
Ozdilli K, Ogret Y, Oguz S, Cinar C, Oguz F. (2026). Comparison of STR-Based Genetic Diversity Between Young and Elderly Populations and Its Association with Aging-Related Pathways.. Genes. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes17080897