BBC Focus Magazine

[MattW]

I thought I'd read somewhere that part of the human genetic code controls ageing, and could therefore , in theory, be switched off? Is this true?
If so, could it not also be possible that one of the estimated 100 billion humans who have ever been born, had a mutation that meant that they didn't age - or that they stopped ageing at a certain point?

Please tell me I'm wrong...

[The Jules]

I don't think human genetics are tough enough to withstand the hardship of continued existence, unfortunately. They're subject to translation errors on their replacements because no copies are ever perfect, as well as bombardment by external, influencing forces like chemicals and background radiation which take their toll on the critter, reducing the efficiency of all sorts of bodily processes and resulting in ageing.

Saying that, it only takes the combination of a couple of sex cells to start a new person, and they don't come out old do they, so you'd think it would be within the realms of possibility to reproduce ourselves in a similar manner?

Apparently though, if you have more than 100 moles on your body, you have a higher chance of living longer and looking younger until later in life. can't rememerb why it's linked but there you go. Get counting.

This is of no comfort to me.

[M Paul Lloyd]

Our cells replace themselves constantly but (so I am lead to believe) they, like photocopying a photocopy, lose a little definition with each new incarnation, thus they degrade and you age.

If you could ensure that each new generation of cell was at least as good as the one before it then in theory you could live for a very long time.

Saves on keeping a pesky portrait in the attic too.

[Liam Sheppard]

I remember reading that they have found a way to turn off a gene which makes you age (on purpose, for some reason) so that it prolongs life, they did it in a mouse and it lived to the equivalent of a hundred years old.. but cells as MPL says degrade over time, with constant replication, cancer etc sets in..

Its oxygen which actually is the greatest enemy of our cells.

[M Paul Lloyd]

You see, that's what Mrs. MPL says, my breathing is her biggest worry........







I think she means my asthma by the way.

[Liam Sheppard]

ha ha..

Well maybe a long time ago our genes were less ... degraded? as in the 'bible' methuselah lived to be about 400 years old or something didn't he?

although contrary to belief he was not the oldest man in the bible... no sir'ee bob

[The Beige Avenger]

I think the boffins are looking into this one as we speak...

Essentially yes, they believe they can stop the part of the code that causes degradation or sommit like that.

I thought it was to do with copies of copies of copies of copies and that part of the info is somehow sacrificed and then subsequently inferred... but I really don't know how the process works, save for nice animations of DNA unravelling and attaching onto other things making more DNA like a kind of machine.

[M Paul Lloyd]

I think the biblical life spans may well be more to do with family dynasties living over many generations rather than just one individual person Liam.

[Liam Sheppard]

don't poo poo my catholic upbringing! it's all real i tells ya

[M Paul Lloyd]

Oh I had one of those too Liam, In nomine Patris et fillii et Spiritus Sancti, confirmed and trained as an alter boy. Amen ............................ and then, I saw the light.

But I will try my very best to respect your belief.

[Jamie]

There's some interesting stuff in Wiki's Senesence article.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senescence

[Liam Sheppard]

ha ha, no respect needed..

I too was an alter boy, and i too saw the light... when i set my hair alight with an akalite on the alter! ha ha...

I'm an indifferent passive agnostic

[Fleck]

Our cells need to replicate themselves digitally then, so there is no loss in quality.

[M Paul Lloyd]

Just so long as they don't suffer from a 'bad signal' Fleck.