Timing mechanism and effective activation energy concerned with aging and lifespan in the long-lived and thermosensory mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans

► The temperature dependency of the lifespan of age-1 and eat-2 mutants was normal. ► The temperature dependency of daf-2 mutants was apparently abnormal. ► The abnormality of daf-2 mutants could be explained from a view of protein denaturation. ► The onset of demographic aging appears to be genetically determined through the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway. ► We conclude that the onset timing of aging and death appears to be different.