Reversal of biological clock restores vision in old mice
‘Reprogramming’ approach seems to make old cells young again.
www.nature.com
General / Off-Topic Forever young - Guess we're getting there
- Thread starter Northpin
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www.nature.com
I don't want to sound morose, but we can't control our population as is. Literal immortality, even of a chosen group (which is the inevitable outcome of technology in a capitalist economy) would probably be the last nail in this planet's coffin.
Although, on the other hand...
If we made enough people immortal, the vague threats that right now are "several generations in the future" and are therefore dismissed as most people tend to not worry themselves with problems that don't touch them personally would suddenly become VERY personal.
Although, on the other hand...
If we made enough people immortal, the vague threats that right now are "several generations in the future" and are therefore dismissed as most people tend to not worry themselves with problems that don't touch them personally would suddenly become VERY personal.
Interesting article. One more step on the long road to negligible senescence.
No doubt there are practical considerations to human immortality that would have to be dealt with, but I still think the time we took our fate into our own hands is long overdue. No one should have to die, until they freely choose to do so. From my perspective, the inevitability of death has never diminished the tragedy of it; quite the opposite really. All that tripe about the value of mortality has always come off as some lame platitude from those without the imagination to conceive of something better.
That said agelessness would only increase the average human lifespan to about two-thousand years. Even if disease could be conquered, we'd eventually fall victim to some sort of physical trauma. Going to need agelessness and invulnerability for a real shot at forever.
No doubt there are practical considerations to human immortality that would have to be dealt with, but I still think the time we took our fate into our own hands is long overdue. No one should have to die, until they freely choose to do so. From my perspective, the inevitability of death has never diminished the tragedy of it; quite the opposite really. All that tripe about the value of mortality has always come off as some lame platitude from those without the imagination to conceive of something better.
That said agelessness would only increase the average human lifespan to about two-thousand years. Even if disease could be conquered, we'd eventually fall victim to some sort of physical trauma. Going to need agelessness and invulnerability for a real shot at forever.
Yeah Imagine what a life insurance for an immortal (read: non-aging) individual would be. Being hit by a vehicle within 40 years? Non-zero, but kind of slim chance if you're careful. Being hit by something in next 1000 years? I'd imagine pretty high.
Lots of hurdles to overcome long before immortality, or even multiple centuries, becomes feasible though. With greater time for mutations to accrue, multiple cancers will inevitably arise in older humans with increasing frequency. Not insurmountable for future medical tech I'm sure but will certainly put the brakes on the general population suddenly becoming immortal, or even living beyond a century or two.
Not to mention the resource shortages, environment impacts and socio economic disparities that may well occur.
I suspect the great filter will probably finish us off long before then anyway
Not to mention the resource shortages, environment impacts and socio economic disparities that may well occur.
I suspect the great filter will probably finish us off long before then anyway
The clock reset for the cell is interesting enough but it may lead us to a not so bright future... with the exception of forcing us out to the stars.
What i find also very interesting is the vector used to transfer the genes to the test subject... a virus. With an on/off switch for the payload
What i find also very interesting is the vector used to transfer the genes to the test subject... a virus. With an on/off switch for the payload
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We would have to be VERY selective with which cells to "reset", though. Unless we want to create an immortal bone cancer or something....
The guy who did the preliminary research to identify the 4 genes used on these mice got the Nobel prize. He is also a marathoneer, a black belt, and an orthopedic surgeon, and is probably responsible for extending the future life of our species
Shinya Yamanaka.
The 4 genes are collectively called the Yamanaka Factors. They are the "Fountain of Youth." So to speak.
Shinya Yamanaka.
The 4 genes are collectively called the Yamanaka Factors. They are the "Fountain of Youth." So to speak.
Yea, but the preliminary research also seen an increase in Cancer incidence
So the second guy (Yuancheng Lu) removed 1 gene from the pool, the one usually associated with Cancer, and the other 3 genes seen the optical nerve regrowth, without an increase in Cancer incidence this time