[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by KARENNN

As far as the "gunk theory", I think finding ways to make the cells live longer and function more efficiently should be the goal. Prevent the gunk rather than try to deal with it after it happens.

According to the author, the gunk starts building up from the earliest stage of life, although it may not be too noticeable in the beginning. It was said that the process of aging is set down from the very beginning.

Perhaps a way has been found to make cells live longer but, so far, I haven't come across any mention of it in this book. You might try searching: Dr. Dean Ornish, telomers and telomerase. According to Dr. Ornish, healthy lifestyle changes can increase telomerase and telomers so that cells can continue to replace themselves. Further studies will likely be needed to confirm this. However, in the mean time, I see no harm in practicing his recommended lifestyle.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

Trying to achieve "immortality" or significantly longer lives through science is an interesting subject.

However, living to an extremely old age has its down side, which was a subtle subtext to the movie The Green Mile, in which various characters were murdered, and legally executed.

The principal character, a jail guard, was shown to live to an age where all of his contemporary friends and acquaintances died, and generations of his new friends had died as well. These losses were painful to him. He appeared to long for death himself rather than experience more of these painful losses.

This causes one to reflect on how long a life is desirable. I have already outlived almost all of the roughly seventy-five deputy sheriffs who I worked with in the 1960s.

That's a good point. I have read about people who outlived all their children. It does happen. But suppose scientists come up with solutions to keep people living longer. That means everyone will live longer, including your friends. But for those who have already lost their friends, there's no turning back the clock.

Actually, this has already happened. There was a time when people only lived to about age 20. Then, much later, it was age 40. Now it's about 79?
Why should we now think that we have reached the upper limit?

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by TheVillageChicken

If science could achieve universal doubling of life expectancy, famine and starvation would eventually nullify that accomplishment.

There has always been "famine and starvation", even thousands of years ago when the population was a lot less. But as a population grows and gets older, people seem to reproduce less.

Look at what's happening in Japan and other countries. As the average age of the population increases, they complain that there are not enough births. It seems that, somehow, nature might have a hand in this. Just as when there are wars, more males than females are born. It's automatic.

[billethkid]

during peace sons bury their fathers; during war fathers bury their sons.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by jblum315

We get old and die because if we didn't there would be way too many people on earth.

The author talked about different theories of why we get old and die, and it was decided that overpopulation is not the reason.

The reason: From the begining natural selection could not select for longevity. What was selected for? Those who were fit to live long enough to reproduce.
Then, once you reproduced, you were disposable.

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

The author talked about different theories of why we get old and die, and it was decided that overpopulation is not the reason.

The reason: From the begining natural selection could not select for longevity. What was selected for? Those who were fit to live long enough to reproduce.
Then, once you reproduced, you were disposable.

If the created could tell the creator how they should made, we could call the shots on immortality.
Just saying, the creator offers eternal life in a plan intended to confound those who think they are wise. It's a good and timely question.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by BarryRX

While I appreciate the biblical references for why we get old and die, science has a different explanation. At the end of our DNA we have telomere chains. As we age, the length of telomere chains becomes shorter. Eventually the telomeres become so short that cell replication produces lethal errors or missing pieces in the DNA sequence, ending the cell's ability to replace itself. This point, when the cell has lost vital DNA code and cannot reproduce, is called the Hayflick limit. It's the measure of how many times a cell can copy itself before it dies.

Some cells in our body have a very high hayflick limit. Cells that line the inside of your mouth and intestines, for example, are constantly being worn away and replaced. Indeed these cells appear to have the ability to regrow telomeres. Other cells do not do such a good job of replacing themselves. These have a low hay flick limit.

BarryRX: You are quoting Dr.Andrew Weil. I like the Adam and Eve story better more sex shorter telomeres, less sex longer telomeres....end of story

[Shimpy]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

Genesis Chapter 3

2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,
.

Did she really talk to a snake???? I know people talk to their pet dogs and cats, but a wild snake? Thats funny.

[KeepingItReal]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

There was a time when people only lived to about age 20. Then, much later, it was age 40. Now it's about 79?
Why should we now think that we have reached the upper limit?

Psalms Chapter 90
10 The days of our years [are] threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength [they be] fourscore years, yet [is] their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Hebrews Chapter 9
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

[BarryRX]

Originally Posted by rubicon

BarryRX: You are quoting Dr.Andrew Weil. I like the Adam and Eve story better more sex shorter telomeres, less sex longer telomeres....end of story

Actually I was trying to paraphrase a study done about 5 years ago by molecular biologist Elizabeth Blackburn. There is also a more recent study about Telomere length in some long lived sea birds, but I don't recall the conclusions. I like the Adam and Eve story too...it's a fine story!

[NottaVillager]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

If the created could tell the creator how they should made, we could call the shots on immortality.
Just saying, the creator offers eternal life in a plan intended to confound those who think they are wise. It's a good and timely question.

Jesus and the prophets often pointed out that "man's knowledge before God is foolishness".

[Villages PL]

The author, mentioned in my opening post, is a science writer and describes how some, like Aubrey de Gray are thinking of aging as a curable disease. And Aubrey has a list of seven deadly things that need to be worked on.
Here is his list:

1) molecules grow tangled and stiff, they are called cross-links

2) mitochondria in the cells fail with age

3) junk collects inside cells

4) junk collects between cells

5) some cells get old and dysfunctional but don't get replaced

6) some cells die and poison other nearby cells

7) cell mutations (in genes) bring forth new cells that build tumors

God gave gerontologists the brains to study the problems of aging and to seek solutions for those problems. God bless biologists, gerontologists and others who try to make life better and, at the same time, more interesting.

Do hear an "amen"? Amen!

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by BarryRX

Actually I was trying to paraphrase a study done about 5 years ago by molecular biologist Elizabeth Blackburn. There is also a more recent study about Telomere length in some long lived sea birds, but I don't recall the conclusions. I like the Adam and Eve story too...it's a fine story!

Elizabeth Blackburn and Dean Ornish, MD, worked on a study together. It was based on lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise and stress reduction. The result was: Study participants showed a 29% rise in telomerase. And there was something about DNA repair or telomere lengthening.

Search: Lifestyle Changes May Lengthen Telomeres, A Measure of Cell Aging

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by BarryRX

Actually I was trying to paraphrase a study done about 5 years ago by molecular biologist Elizabeth Blackburn. There is also a more recent study about Telomere length in some long lived sea birds, but I don't recall the conclusions. I like the Adam and Eve story too...it's a fine story!

BarryRX Dr. Weil was, in his early years, ahead of his time a new age hippie really knew his chemicals and I mean that in every sense.

His, and others research do make sense and cancer cells if they could be re-engineered so as to have a constructive vis a vis destructive growth would advance these study 10 fold.

I do believe that scientist will be able to extend a man's life ( I am not sure about women ) but it will come at a cost simply because living is a series of trade offs. As for population explosions well man has always adjusted i.e necessity is the mother of invention/technology

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

That's a good point. I have read about people who outlived all their children. It does happen. But suppose scientists come up with solutions to keep people living longer. That means everyone will live longer, including your friends. But for those who have already lost their friends, there's no turning back the clock.

Actually, this has already happened. There was a time when people only lived to about age 20. Then, much later, it was age 40. Now it's about 79?
Why should we now think that we have reached the upper limit?

My doctor says 88 for women and 83 for men. That doesn't make me very happy. I surely do not want to outlive my very best friend on this earth.