Long Life Genetic Markers

Newly pinpointed genetic markers could be used to predict "exceptional longevity" with 77% accuracy.
ABC World News (7/1, story 10, 2:00, Sawyer) reported, "We all know about those people who live well past 100, vibrant, thriving. Is it some special food or some rule they live by?" Yet, according to NBC Nightly News (7/1, story 6, 2:00, Curry), there may be a question that's far more interesting: "If a test could tell you could live to be 100, would you take that test?" It's a conversation that seems to have deep roots in "science fiction." That may soon change, however, because "a scientist who spent decades trying to figure out why some people live to be 100 has now concluded the answer may have a lot more to do with genetics than you might think."
Boston University researchers identified "a genetic signature which may help predict who among us will reach the century mark," the CBS Evening News (7/1, story 10, 0:20, Pelley) reported. According to USA Today (7/2, Weise), the "gene clusters seem to trump disease-causing genes that would otherwise cause common problems of aging."
Commenting on the work detailed in Science, "Winifred K. Rossi, deputy director of the National Institute on Aging's Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology, which funded the research," told the Washington Post (7/2, A04, Stein), "It's an important steppingstone towards helping us understand the complex genetic and environmental factors that lead to a healthy, long life."