Research published last week in the Cell Systems journal debunks the thinking that multiplying a dog’s age by seven is equivalent to its real age. Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine developed a new formula that tracks molecular changes, mainly the changing patterns of methyl groups, in the DNA of Labrador retrievers. It shows dogs age quickly early in their lives while aging slows after they reach maturity.
Source: CNN, July 2, 2020. Link. The new formula “is the first that is transferable across species,” and scientists plan to test their findings on other dogs breeds to study the impact of longevity on their findings, according to a release.