The secret to long life? It could be in the genes after all, say scientists

New study into heritability' shows that 50% of the variation in human lifespan could be down to genetics

Some people who live to a great age put it down to an evening tot of whisky, others to staying out of trouble. Now scientists think they may have unlocked a key secret to long life - quite simply, genetics.

Writing in the journal Science, the researchers described how previous studies that had attempted to unpick the genetic component of human lifespan had not taken into account that some lives were cut short by accidents, murders, infectious diseases or other factors arising outside the body. Such extrinsic mortality" increases with age, as people often become more frail.