Transcriptome analysis of ageing in a long-lived seabird reveals sex-specific differences across age classes in immune and DNA repair pathways

The dataset contains the list of individuals sampled for transcriptome analysis to investigate differences in gene expression between younger and older individuals. The individuals of Scopoli’s shearwaters used for this study breed on Linosa Island (Sicily Channel, south-western Mediterranean Sea; 35°52′ N, 12°52′ E). Birds (16 males and 16 females) were sampled after incubation had begun. Individuals aged 5-9 years (n = 16) were classified as younger adults, as Scopoli’s shearwaters typically begin breeding at approximately 5-6 years of age. The older adults (n=16) encompassed a wider age span, as birds older than 19 years are unevenly represented in the study population. In this group only two individuals (one male and one female) reached 36 years of age, while the remaining were between 19 and 22 years old. From each individual, we collected 400 µl of whole blood from the tarsal vein within 5 minutes of capture using a 1 ml syringe. Straightaway the collection of blood, we stabilised it in RNAprotect Animal Blood Tubes (QIAGEN Inc.) to prevent RNA degradation. Afterwards, we stored the samples at -20 °C in the field facilities and at -80 °C when back to the laboratory until analyses. File Scopoli_s_shearwater_RNA_samples.xlsx contains the following information: Column 1 ("code"): sample identification code. Column 2 ("ring"): unique ring identification number assigned to each individual. Column 3 ("ageclass"): age class of the individual as a categorical variable (young/old). Column 4 ("ageyears"): age of the individual as a continuous variable, expressed as the number of years since the ringing date. Column 5 ("sex"): sex of the individual (M = male; F = female).