The 'Methuselah' Gene
Scientists have unearthed the tiny mutation which gives extra protection against the diseases of old age. This mutation protects against the effects of unhealthy lifestyles such as the effects of smoking and bad diet, as well as the onset of age-related illnesses such as cancer and heart disease.
This gene, associated with metabolism, is now named after the oldest person in the bible who lived to be 969 years old- Methuselah. The gene which is found in about 10 per cent of young people but in 30 per cent of centenarians causes people who carry it to metabolize fat and glucose differently, their skin ages more slowly and they have lower prevalence of heart disease, diabetes and hypertension.
Provided you have the right DNA, living to the ripe old age of 100 may have nothing to do the lifestyle you lead and everything to do with your type of genes say scientists.
Extremely rare with only one person in 10,000 reaching the age of 100. The studies show that it is a combination of genes rather than one gene that guarantees a long life.
'If we know which genes control longevity then we can find out what proteins they make and then target them with drugs. That makes it possible to slow down ageing,' conclude other scientists.
Recently published studies show how the physiology of people in long-lived families differs from normal people.These studies could lead scientists to invent an anti-ageing drug which will slow the ageing process down considerably.
Much of the pain and suffering in the world today is caused by aging. If we can find a way to reduce that, then is science morally obliged to take it?
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A thought provoking post - I think we already have the potential for immortality and some of us will choose a drug and others will perhaps trigger their own anti ageing gene by inducing a timeless state where neither the past or future exists but only the NOW - perhaps through survival pressures the right and left brain will work in a synergistic fashion thus enabling new neural connections analogous to the World Wide Web - where we can interact with each others consciousness but still maintain a firewall / own identity - until peace and goodwill permeates through our consciousness and fear subsides and ageing becomes obsolete.
I think biological immortality will become a reality. We are the contents of our consciousness which has been conditioned by society, if we take away the conditioning we are left with something that was never born or dies ( original prime consciousness ) ... Consciousness...is an element that eluded Einstein ...mass energy consciousness is the dynamic that drives the universe and earthbound businesses. The fully conscious business mind can
control the very essence of all value creation by using discipline thought and control which are the dynamics which will determine ones success on WA. One last point to consider THOUGHTS ARE THINGS AND THINGS ARE THOUGHTS ...whatever we do in life or business ripples throughout eternity. Thanks Tom for the post.
Hi Paul- One theory is that the past-present-future all exist at the same time. Off topic here a bit, I personally believe that you can change the present through the future via conscious awareness of a specific goal.
I know this is a bit off topic BUT, if we are going to increase the average life span, we need to push back the age at which people are eligible for their entitlements. That is the ONLY way the math works. And the aging population has been pretty clear about how they feel about that subject :)
Hey Steve-where you've been? Good to hear from you... I think you may have a good point there, the Cambridge Scholars better keep that in mind if they want to increase longevity!
I've been pretty active out here lately but we don't seem to be crossing paths. Great discussion as usual :)
Living Long is Living Long - and only that.
Living with meaning is much more.
I never want to grow old to "make it there", I must have a reason to be there.
If science can find a way to keep my mind in check with my age I eat that pill 'cause I'm still an invincible 20 year old but my body 43 year old body hasn't gotten the memo yet.
E
Hi Eric-I have to agree with you, however I must say that just the fact that you are alive has meaning!
Agreed for sure but I am here with a mind and will lose interest as human nature intends should I not have reason.
Hi Eric- I do believe you have touched on a very important aspect. I am not sure if human nature intends it, however having goals and growing is a function of life. I have heard it said "If we are not growing, we are dying."
Intention, maybe or maybe not, result surely.
Not growing = dying - I'm not certain that's 100% accurate as stagnation seems to fit in between.
I could philosophize all day long - and I love doing it with you especially!
Why - because from my vantage you question everything and look for what's worthy and what's not ... just like me. I could be wrong but hell I've been wrong many times - that's help make me what I am today.
We should challenge life and it's meaning more (all of us but you and I too) but for now let's build our tiny parts of the world we live in.
ROCK ON!
E
A very controversial subject. I agree with something that can reduce pain and suffering but to create any form of elixir of life I feel would cause problems with the population of the world.
Everyone has their own beliefs as to the reasons why we live, grow old and die. I personally don't think that scientists should meddle too much with things that they are not 1000% certain will not have repercussions on humanity.
Hi Lis- Yes I agree and one of the premises I try to live by is (May all beings be free from suffering and the root causes of suffering) and I agree with you as far as scientific meddling. Were you aware that scientists are trying to bring back woolly mammoths?
This was very well stated Lis! I was going to respond but couldn't gather my thoughts properly. You took care of that :)
Like you said earlier Lis- can you imagine the consequences if this becomes a reality. Like the movie Jurassic Park there are so many variables to consider. One small variable among many is the fact that the areas where they roamed and the fauna (plant life) at the time has changed considerably.
That is true, but it could be more like King Kong and other films that portray these, I will call them, Mad Scientists resurrecting extinct species and bringing them into modern day civilisation. The devastation that can cause.
I know a lot of that is SciFi, but I am also aware that scientists will sometimes go to any lengths just because they can. It can have very dangerous repercussions.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, some scientists and governments develop a 'god complex' where they think they have the right to push the boundaries of nature, science and humanity to beyond its limits just to see what could happen.
Science has made some brilliant breakthroughs to cure and reduce illnesses etc and I think that they should just stick to these boundaries.
This is in fact a very touchy, many religious individuals would find that it is almost like delaying their inevitable passing, or simply cheating death, however, their is no way to determine ones destiny or fate, if there really is one. There has also been a lot of controversy over the invention of time mechanisms as well, however, this is a separate topic. Anyways, this seems like it would be a powerful scientific breakthrough which would make history. Just the thought of having an expanded life span would sound remarkable to many. Very interesting topic, I am glad that you wrote it :)
Hi Florida- It could be a touchy subject but that just depends on how you look at it. I don't go by the expression "we have a life" or "it's a matter of life and death" for me I would say "we are life" and "birth and death" no matter if we live as a human for a few minutes or a few thousand years. I believe that there is no cheating death because there is actually no birth or death (Buddhist philosophy). This may be a scientific breakthrough in the sense that people who are (as we all do) physically age, can do so gracefully without the burden of disease or disorder and live a more full human existence in good health.
Hi Kay and thanks for weighing in- I agree with you and why not? If through eating well, exercise, maintaining a proper attitude and now with the help of this gene, people could possible age gracefully without the ravaging effects we are so used to seeing, then I say awesome!
If a lot of pain and suffering is caused by aging, should we be actively promoting the technology that would make us live to an older age artificially?
Hi Terry- Actually it is the results of aging, (disease and the breakdown of the body) that the article is referring- as to the possibility that this gene could assist with metabolizing fat and glucose differently, your skin would age more slowly and you would have lower prevalence of heart disease, diabetes and hypertension.
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I think that scientists need to focus more on curing diseases that are killing people now and not putting their efforts into trying to make people live longer. I believe in God and when he calls you home, all the scientists in the world can't stop it. Interesting post TJ, thank you for sharing:)
Great point Jazmin. I would even like to see us go one step further and focus on preventing the diseases in the first place through healthier choices and life styles.
Harold
Hi Jazmin- A question I ask myself during my meditation sessions is
"Who am I" this is not a question to be answered with the logical brain just to concentrate on. When used for a period of time with patience and practice some very interesting thoughts arise.
Thanks TJ, I'll have to try it sometime:)
I totally agree Harold, preventing diseases through healthier choices and life styles should be our first defense, great point:)