Chinese scientists have identified a gene playing an important role in regulating the development and lifespan of primates through genome-editing technology and experiments on monkeys and human stem cells.

中国科学家通过基因组编辑技术以及在猴子和人类干细胞实验的基础上发现一个基因，这个基因对于调节灵长类的发育以及寿命起着重要作用。

The study may open the door to new research on human development and aging, as well as new treatments for age-related disorders, said Liu Guanghui, a professor at the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Understanding the genetic basis of aging is the prerequisite to delaying aging and treating age-related illnesses, Liu said.

In 1999, scientists found that the Sir2 gene plays a role in prolonging the lifespan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a kind of yeast. Then scientists found that the SIRT6 gene, a homologue of Sir2, is involved in the regulation of aging and longevity in rodents.

Deficiency of SIRT6 from mice leads to features of accelerated aging such as loss of subcutaneous fat, spinal curvature, colitis and shortening of telomere.

However, the biological function of SIRT6 in primates remains largely unknown.