3 replies to this topic

[ihatesnow]

http://f1000.com/116...6g2x5rs1yb33q5v

[SloMoSandy]

Very very interesting, fascinating actually...


"While this certainly provides a big hope that one might be able to manipulate the age of cells, this work also leaves a fascinating philosophical question: if cells have a capability to reset their age, why do they age in the first place?"

[Marios Kyriazis]

"if cells have a capability to reset their age, why do they age in the first place?"

They age because they have to. Only by aging and consequent death would the process of natural selection be able to function. The energy resources needed for repair are diverted to the germ-line cells in order to assure survival of the species, whereas the somatic cells remain insufficiently repaired. If natural selection ceases (which will in humans, relatively soon) then there will be no need for aging.

[SloMoSandy]

If natural selection ceases (which will in humans, relatively soon) then there will be no need for aging.

Not sure about the exact "system"/cause-effect, but well put still.... Something towards M.Rose take on evolutionary explanation of aging.

Now we need to find out the right "switches", or more precisely - the right way to "reprogram" our epigenomic "software", as in these yeasts..

Edited by VidX, 21 September 2011 - 08:15 PM.