The Peter Pan gene

Mich Jagger looks older than Cliff Richard.
Mich Jagger looks older than Cliff Richard.

Scientific studies suggest there is a 'Peter Pan' gene linked to looking younger than your years... but would you rather look like Cliff or Mick?

According to a study millions of Britons are blessed with a gene that makes them look up to eight years younger than their years, which could explain why Cliff Richard looks a lot younger than Mick Jagger, despite being older.

The study, by the journal Nature Genetics, found that while 7 per cent of the population has two copies of a stretch of DNA that makes you look older, lucky people with the 'Peter Pan' gene do not have this stretch of DNA at all. Instead, they have the 'Peter Pan' gene.

Telomere length is also thought to affect how people age facially, as well as impacting upon age-related health conditions such as heart disease.

Do you have the 'Peter Pan' gene? Let us know.

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2 comments

Chris4

08/03/10 at 15:35

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I have photo's of the gran taken when she retired at 60 and on her 80th which don't look any different. The same with my mum, the rest of my family never seem to change. Looking at photo's of me taken over 14 & 7 years ago my husband says I don't look any different now (he didn't know me then)

sheena

09/02/10 at 15:23

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How do you answer this without sounding vain?
Anyhow, i think my family has this as they all look a lot younger than they are.
So much so, that i NEVER comment on how old i think someone is because i age them terribly as i'm comparing them to my lot!

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