political, and cultural change.
A Remarkable Request to Science
Before her death, Maria made an extraordinary request: she asked medical researchers to study her DNA to uncover the secrets behind her extraordinary longevity. Hoping her experience could guide future generations, she provided access to tissue samples and agreed to genetic analyses.
A team of Spanish scientists, including researchers from the University of Barcelona and the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, undertook the study. Their goal was not only to understand why Maria had lived so long but also why she remained remarkably healthy into her late years.
Dr. Manel Esteller, the lead investigator, explained to The Times: “The common rule is that as we age we become sicker, but she was an exception, and we wanted to understand why. For the first time, we’ve been able to separate being old from being sick.” He emphasized that while genetics played a role, lifestyle and habits were equally crucial: “We can develop drugs to reproduce the effects of good genes. Maria’s parents gave her very good genes, but we cannot choose our parents.”
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