(Feely rusty? Oxidative stress may not be what’s killing you, after all. Photo: Shane Anderson)
from Mark:
Put away your free-radical scavenging face cream and your anti-oxidant horse pills: Old age is not about “rust.” It is the result of a derailing of genetic pathways in older animals, according to a new study.
According to a group of Stanford University scientists who examined some very tiny worms, we are living beyond natural selection’s ability to get rid of those susceptible to this “developmental drift,” because they have already reproduced.
“We found a normal developmental program that works in young animals, but becomes unbalanced as the worm gets older,” said the lead scientist on the worm study. “It accounts for the lion’s share of molecular differences between young and old worms.”
The discovery might lead new anti-aging therapies, or “genetic counseling” for helpful parents at risk for condemning their children to a shorter lifespan.
Some tortoises lay eggs at the age of 100, he points out. There are whales that live to be 200, and clams that make it past 400. Those species use the same building blocks for their DNA, proteins and fats as humans, mice and nematode worms. The chemistry of the wear-and-tear process, including damage from oxygen free-radicals, should be the same in all cells, which makes it hard to explain why species have dramatically different life spans.
“A free radical doesn’t care if it’s in a human cell or a worm cell,” Kim said.
Hello Mark ~ First great post!
I can see now into the future when one goes to a Doctors office and fills out a (con)form:
1) What Medications do you presently take? If less than ten why? List all
2) Do you have a certified National Health Care Plan Pharma Therapist assigned to you?
3) When was the last time you saw a Genetic Therapist (their-a-pissed)
4) What year, model and make is your Brainchip? Is it UN certified?
5) Do you have strong urges to be Independant? If so why? Explain
6) Are you a naturally conceived HUMAN or CLONED?
7) If you were naturally conceived can you provide a DNA certificate?
All answers will be processed through Blue Max and if they do not comply within UN guidelines fully you will be notified before any Cybernetic technicians can perform. You may subject to PSYCHO analysis and Genetic tests also per UN rules as well.
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