Aussie scientist on Time's influential list

Australian scientist David Sinclair, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, has made Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People list.

Professor David Sinclair. (AAP)

Australian scientist David Sinclair has been named one of the world's most influential people by Time Magazine.

Sinclair, a biologist and professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, has made the magazine's 2014 100 Most Influential People list.

Born in Sydney, Sinclair is best known for his research on the biology of life span extension and driving research towards treating the diseases of ageing.

He identified genes that allow yeast to get by on fewer kilojoules and extend its life span by about 30 per cent.

In 2013, Sinclair pinned down a chemical known as NAD that actually reverses the ageing process in cells, according to the magazine.

Others to make the 2014 list of most influential people include Pope Francis, music superstar Beyonce, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, Oscar-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen, Gravity director Alfonso Cuaron and football star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, US President Barack Obama and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are also listed.