Transcriptome signatures of fast vs. slow aging in Fukomys mole-rat breeders vs. non-breeders

This study compares the transcriptomes profiles of Fukomys mole-rats breeders vs. that of non-breeders. Fukomys mole-rats live in eusocial colony structures with a breeding pair at the top of the social hierarchy and up to 40 non-reproductive animals. The biological relevance of the study is given by the circumstance that for two species of the Fukomys genus it was shown that breeders live approximately twice as long as non-breeders - both, at average and at maximum. The transcriptome comparison is carried out across these two species - F. mechowii and F. micklemi - both sexes and 16 tissues. We examined 5-7 animals per sex, species and breeding status (breeder or non-breeder). In total, 636 samples from 45 animals were examined.