Research conducted by the BBSRC  (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Researh Council) Centre for Integrated Systems Biology of Ageing and Nutrition (CISBAN)  is being presented at the conference of the British Society for Research on Ageing (BSRA) in Newcastle, U.K.  This research sheds new light on why restricted diets extend life span in certain organisms.  Mice fed a restricted diet had reduced levels of senescent cells in their livers and intestines, where large numbers of these cells are known to accumulate as animals age.  It was found that the cells of mice fed restricted diets better maintained their telomeres, the protective ‘ends’ of chromosomes that help prevent errors, and aging.  Read more at the BBSRC website.