![]() Many species lack measurable external features that change with age. However, chronological age is difficult to estimate in individuals of most animal species ( Nussey et al., 2013). Estimates of chronological age are therefore useful for understanding these key ecological characteristics of wild animals. ![]() Biological functions including the age of reproductive maturity ( Charpentier et al., 2008 Jones et al., 2014), reproductive frequency ( Froy et al., 2013), and mortality ( Pérez-Barbería et al., 2014) can be better understood in the context of age. Emerging technologies for measuring DNAm will also enhance our ability to study age-related DNAm changes and to develop new molecular age biomarkers.īiological ageing involves complex interactions of accumulating organ, cellular, and DNA damage leading to functional decline and increased risk of death ( Fontana et al., 2010). Recent studies have revealed new examples of DNAm age association in several new species increasing the potential for developing DNAm age biomarkers for a broad range of wild animals. An ability to estimate age would lead to improved monitoring of (i) population trends and status and (ii) demographic properties such as age structure and reproductive performance. Animal age is widely used to track ongoing changes in ecosystems, however chronological age information is often unavailable for wild animals. Recent studies have used DNAm changes as a biomarker to estimate chronological age in humans and these techniques are now also being applied to domestic and wild animals. 6CSIRO Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, AustraliaĭNA methylation (DNAm) is a key mechanism for regulating gene expression in animals and levels are known to change with age.5Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia. ![]()
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