Career Retrospective: Tom Johnson—Genetics, Genomics, Stress, Stochastic Variation, and Aging

Here we reflect on the highly influential career of Thomas "Tom" E. Johnson and his contributions to gerontology. Tom is considered the father of genetic gerontology because he proved the previously contentious notion that lifespan can be very significantly influenced by single genes. Tom went on to characterize the aging process holistically with genomics. Moreover, Tom's laboratory made significant and lasting discoveries demonstrating that the prevention and repair of somatic damage determines lifespan. Finally, Tom found a way to study the origins and consequences of stochastic components of aging, arguably uncovering the first robust biomarker and predictor of aging. Johnson's contributions form the bedrock of an entire subfield in biology, and are also the foundation of the current revolution in biomedical research that is targeting the aging processes to prevent age-related chronic diseases, from Alzheimer's to cancer. From simple experiments on aging in nematode worms, a new biotechnology industry is emerging. Here we focus on the early discoveries that have inspired thousands of researchers across the world to study aging, and we acknowledge the wider significance of the creation of a field that has the potential to transform human health.