DNA methylation age clock proposed for crown-of-thorns seastar
In an abstract, researchers built a DNA methylation-based age prediction model for the crown-of-thorns seastar, reporting a mean absolute error of 0.31 ± 0.22 years and a 14-site optimized clock. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Whole-genome DNA methylation profiles were generated across five age groups of the crown-of-thorns seastar, and 1910 CpG sites were significantly associated with age. [1]
Age prediction models using elastic net regression reached a mean absolute error of 0.31 ± 0.22 years under leave-one-out cross-validation, and an optimized clock used 14 CpG sites. [1]
The authors state that DNA methylation-based age estimation is feasible in a deuterostome invertebrate, extending epigenetic ageing approaches beyond arthropods. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Abstract of a DNA methylation clock development study
- Population / context
- Pacific crown-of-thorns seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris) across five age groups
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 1, 2026
Seastar age groups and methylation profiling
The abstract describes an epigenetic clock for the Pacific crown-of-thorns seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris), a coral predator on Indo-Pacific reefs. Using Oxford Nanopore Technologies, the authors generated whole-genome DNA methylation profiles across five age groups. They identified 1910 CpG sites whose methylation patterns were significantly associated with age. The abstract does not report how many animals were sampled per group or how age was determined.
Supporting source [1]
Prediction error and 14-site optimized clock
Age prediction models were fitted with elastic net regression and evaluated by leave-one-out cross-validation. The reported mean absolute error was 0.31 ± 0.22 years, which the authors relate to 4–6% of the seastar's 5–8 year lifespan. They state this accuracy suggests the potential to differentiate annual cohorts. An optimized clock was built from 14 CpG sites consistently selected across cross-validation iterations. These are model performance figures, not evidence that the clock improves conservation outcomes.
Supporting source [1]
Feasibility claim and abstract-only scope
The authors conclude that DNA methylation-based age estimation is feasible in a deuterostome invertebrate, extending such approaches beyond arthropods. They frame the clock as potentially useful for age determination and management in invertebrates lacking reliable ageing methods. This is a feasibility and potential claim, not a demonstrated management benefit. Only the abstract was reviewed; the full text was not reviewed, so sample sizes, age validation and model details remain unverified here.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. Sample sizes per age group, how age was determined, and model details are not reported in the abstract. The management relevance is described as potential, not demonstrated.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Kwong SLT, Budd AM, Gomez-Cabrera M, Hung JY, Pratchett MS, Villacorta-Rath C, Uthicke S. · europepmc.org · September 1, 2026