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Company Sells a “Biological Age” Kit

While the epigenetic clock is a useful tool for research and has solid scientific backing, scientists say the product’s use to consumers is limited.

Written byDiana Kwon
| 3 min read
Retro styled image of old scratched and run down pocket watches, signifying biological age kits that predict epigenetic aging.
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Most of us measure our age based on the day we were born. Certain factors, however, such as poor lifestyle, disease, and genetics, can rack up the so-called biological years more rapidly. Scientists have been working to develop accurate biomarkers of aging, and the “epigenetic aging clock” has emerged as one of the most effective methods.

Now, the clock has emerged from the lab and entered into the retail market. Individuals can determine their “biological age” through a direct-to-consumer (DTC) product provided by Zymo Research, a manufacturer of molecular biology research tools.

“I think the model in itself is robust and it is being used quite extensively by the scientific community,” says Veryan Codd, a molecular biologist at the University of Leicester. “[However,] I think that until we understand what the effects [of this aging marker] are and what can be done to influence it, it’s not a particularly useful ...

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Meet the Author

  • Diana is a freelance science journalist who covers the life sciences, health, and academic life. She’s a regular contributor to The Scientist and her work has appeared in several other publications, including Scientific American, Knowable, and Quanta. Diana was a former intern at The Scientist and she holds a master’s degree in neuroscience from McGill University. She’s currently based in Berlin, Germany.

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