Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B
Age clock may track development in wild Soay sheep
Models built from body measurements collected from 1985 to 2024 linked higher predicted ages relative to actual age with better winter survival in adult sheep.Models built from body measurements collected from 1985 to 2024 linked higher predicted ages relative to actual age with better winter survival in adult sheep.
Cohort studyBiomarkers
Who was studiedWild adult Soay sheep
What changedAdult sheep born heavier had higher clock-predicted ages relative to their actual ages
The catchSelective loss of lower-quality sheep can mask senescence, making the clock look development-focused