Multinational technology company Google has granted $1.5 billion worth of research fund to Calico Labs to solve the mystery of human aging by studying rodents.

Naked mole rats will be the subjects of the study, which will be headed by the California Life Company (Calico Labs). These rodents can live for as long as 30 years while their dwarf counterparts have a lifespan of shorter than two years.

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To understand the reason behind the long lifespan of naked mole rats, Calico Labs would examine the species' molecular signature through its feces, blood, and urine. Roughly 1,000 animals will be used in the study for seven years.

The California-based laboratory will collaborate with the Maine Jackson Laboratory to search for biomarkers of age. The researchers will use a gene-editing technique called CRISPR-cas9 that enables them to manipulate the genes of creatures like fish, mice, and flies. This will help determine how changes in the genes will influence the length of the rat's lifespan.

Former Google Ventures leader Bill Maris said that it is possible for humans to live for "500 years" and research could provide clues to prolong people's existence in this world. The researchers would use the naked mole rat not only because of its longer time of life compared to other laboratory animals but also due to its biological defenses against diseases such as cancer.

The amount donated by Alphabet, Google's parent company, will not just support the study but will also ensure the welfare of the laboratory animals. 

The Google-funded research will also study worms, yeasts, and mice to establish a better understanding of human aging.