[
Results Probl Cell Differ,
2000]
There is little question that cell death contributes in a significant way to development, homeostasis, and disease. The roles of cell death and cell-death genes in the process of aging, however, have not been clearly elaborated. The nematode C. elegans has proven to be a powerful genetic model system for studying both cell death and aging. Mutations affecting either cellular death or animal life span have been identified, providing the tools to evaluate genetic contributions of cell death to aging. Here, we briefly review the genetics of life span and the genetics of cell death in C. elegans. We discuss what is known of the contributions of apoptotic and necrotic cell death genes to aging and highlight pressing questions for more detailed evaluation of the role of cell death in aging.