Scientists in Beijing, China have developed a new gene therapy that can turn back some of the effects of aging in mice. The therapy also extended their lives. This may one day help humans as well. The gene therapy involved disabling a gene called kat7. Scientists have found this gene to be the main cause of aging in cells. Qu Jing of the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, or CAS, is one of the supervisors of the project. After six to eight months, Qu said, the mice showed an overall improvement in their appearance and grip strength. More importantly, she added, “they have extended lifespan of about 25 percent.”