The gonad affects animal lifespan. Removal of C. elegans germ line triggers a switch in the regulatory state of the organism to promote longevity, co-opting components involved in larval developmental timing circuits, including DAF-12 (steroid receptor) and up-regulation of members of the let-7 miRNA family. let-7 miRNAs target lin-14 (early larval nuclear factor) and akt-1 (kinase), thereby stimulating DAF-16/FOXO signaling to extend lifespan [http://www.sciencemag.org.ezproxy.liv.ac.uk/content/338/6113/1472.abstract].
