Aging varies not just by species but also by the genetic background of each individual. This fact has greatly hindered all attempts to understand aging as a general phenomena. Despite this problem, oxidative stress and its effect on cellular signaling appears important in many studies of aging. Although I originally started working with ants that live a very long time, I have been shifting my model to Drosophila melanogaster where it is easier to study these genetic and environmental affects. Most of my laboratory research comes back to this central question.