Tag: Astyanax mexicanus


  • Elevated DNA Damage in Short-Sleeping Mexican Cavefish Without Visible Aging Signs

    Elevated DNA Damage in Short-Sleeping Mexican Cavefish Without Visible Aging Signs

    Overview: When Sleep Meets Genetics in a Special Fish Sleep is a universal behavior across the animal kingdom, serving crucial roles in memory, metabolism, and cellular maintenance. A remarkable line of research now turns its attention to the Mexican cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus), a species adapted to perpetually dark, resource-scarce environments. In these cave-dwelling populations, scientists…

  • Short-Sleeping Mexican Cavefish: DNA Damage Without Aging Signs

    Short-Sleeping Mexican Cavefish: DNA Damage Without Aging Signs

    Introduction Sleep is a fundamental behavior across the animal kingdom, shaping metabolism, learning, and longevity. A surprising line of inquiry has emerged from the study of the Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus, a species split between surface-dwelling and cave-dwelling populations. In particular, some cave populations exhibit markedly reduced sleep. Recent research now reveals a striking paradox:…

  • Short-Sleeping Mexican Cavefish Show Elevated DNA Damage Without Apparent Aging

    Short-Sleeping Mexican Cavefish Show Elevated DNA Damage Without Apparent Aging

    Overview: A surprising link between sleep, DNA damage, and aging In an intriguing twist on the sleep–aging paradigm, researchers studying the Mexican cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus) have observed elevated DNA damage in individuals that sleep significantly less than their surface-dwelling relatives. Despite the uptick in DNA lesions, these short-sleeping cavefish do not exhibit the typical hallmarks…