Key points from article :
A new study led by Dr Lars Velten at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona, and published in Nature, has uncovered unique “barcodes” in our DNA that can trace how blood-producing stem cells evolve with age. These barcodes—chemical tags known as methylation marks—help scientists track blood cells back to their original stem cells, offering vital insights into the ageing process.
Using a new technique called EPI-Clone, researchers analysed blood from mice and humans and found that, by the age of 50 to 60, blood production is taken over by just a few dominant stem cell “clones.” These clones tend to generate myeloid cells, which are linked to chronic inflammation, blood cancers like leukaemia, and heart disease.
This breakthrough could lead to early detection of age-related illnesses long before symptoms appear. It also opens the door to new therapies: scientists believe targeting the overgrown clones might help rejuvenate the blood system and slow down ageing. As Dr Velten puts it, “We can’t fix what we can’t see—and for the first time, EPI-Clone can facilitate this for humans.
