Polymorphism of heterochromatin areas on chromosomes 1, 9, 16 and Y in long-lived subjects and persons of different ages in two regions of the Soviet Union.

Variants of chromosome polymorphism were analyzed in long-lived individuals and in subjects aged 40-79 years (170 persons) in two regions of the Soviet Union. The results of this analysis allow the suggestion that there is an association between the individual variants of chromosome polymorphism as regards C heterochromatin and the longevity phenomenon. Large size C segments on the human Y chromosome and the long Y chromosome were found both in the Ukrainian and Abkhasian long-lived males. In the long-lived females the chromosome polymorphism variants were associated with a region of their residence. The long-lived females of Abkhasia had a decreased relative size of C segments on chromosome 1 and an increased absolute and relative size of C segments on chromosome 9, while in their Ukrainian counterparts there was an increased relative size of C segments on chromosome 1 and a decreased one on chromosome 16.