People are having children later than ever before. The average age of new parents in the United States has been rising for at least the past half century.

But time is tough on our bodies and our reproductive systems. For instance, as animals age, our stem cells are less effective at renewing our tissues. This is particularly true for germline stem cells, which turn into sperm and eggs.

What if there were a way to pause this process?

Biologists at UC Santa Barbara have published a study on the ability of fruit flies to extend the longevity of their germline stem cells. The paper, released in Nature Communications(link is external), describes a process that halts egg production in female flies. The scientists found that nearly every step was put on hold, extending the stem cells’ viability. The insights could inform future medical discoveries.

“We’re interested in extending the life of stem cells in general, and female germline stem cells in particular,” said senior author Denise Montell(link is external), the Duggan Professor and a distinguished professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology.