For a limited number of genes, including APOE, FOXO3A, and PON1, association of specific variants with aging/longevity has already been established [30], [31], [37]–[39]. These associations, however, only account for a fraction of the genetic contribution to aging and longevity. Our candidate gene choice reflects the need to assess genetic variation in a broader spectrum of genes that affect aging-related biological mechanisms and pathways, particularly in animal models. Although it is plausible that additional ‘causal’ variants exist in these documented aging-associated genes, we focused on an independent set of genes to generate genetic variation data for use in association studies.
