Scientists Identify a Potentially Universal Mechanism of Aging 359
cybergenesis2008 points us to a summary of research out of Harvard Medical School in which a set of genes known to affect aging in yeast was found to affect aging in mice as well. The genes, called sirtuins, perform two particular tasks; regulating which genes are "on" and "off," and also helping to repair damaged DNA. As an organism ages, the frequency of damage to DNA increases, leaving less time for the sirtuins' regulatory tasks. The increasingly unregulated genes then become a significant factor in aging. Realizing this, the researchers "administered extra copies of the sirtuin gene [to the mice], or fed them the sirtuin activator resveratrol, which in turn extended their mean lifespan by 24 to 46 percent." We discussed the plans for this research a few years ago.
My genes are regulated as hell (Score:4, Funny)
Longer "Use by" dates on mice (Score:5, Funny)
Re:24%-46% longer human life (Score:5, Funny)
After reading over your 30-page argument and its wealth of calculations, charts, and academic sources cited across multiple peer-reviewed journals stating much the same, I have to say that I completely agree with you.
Re:24%-46% longer human life (Score:2, Funny)
Seen a newspaper lately? 0% longer human life is an economic disaster.
Re:Immortality is scary (Score:5, Funny)
The answer is simple: anti-arthritis death sqauds. If you end up with arthritis, we kill you and your whole family.
It's obvious- why hasn't anyone implemented it yet?
Re:Immortality is scary (Score:5, Funny)
You are under the impression that as people gain wealth most of them will horde it. While the truth is that they will try to spend it.
There are many economists, researchers, and liberal arts majors, along with about 200 million working poor, that very much disagree with you. But you can ignore the liberal arts majors.
Re:My genes are regulated as hell (Score:4, Funny)
Hell, reading the article's title, I thought they had discovered that time passing as a universal cause for people to age.
Oh Great Spaghetti Monster (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Immortality is scary (Score:3, Funny)
. There are also 100 million Americans who believe that the Earth is being visited by little green men who have nothing better to do than shove metal objects in the anal cavities of dirt-poor yokels in Middle-Of-Nowhere, Idaho. Just because an idea is popular, that doesn't mean it's true.
I doubt 1/3 of all Americans even believe that there can be intelligence elsewhere in the universe, much less engaging in homoerotic xenosexual fantasies.
Re:Immortality is scary (Score:3, Funny)
I know it's bad form to post 2 responses in a row, but this was just to perfect to pass up:
Out of the 3 people who respond to my original comment so far, one of them only did so in order to defend UFO's. So, 1/3 = 33.3% :)
Re:Longer "Use by" dates on mice (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Immortality is scary (Score:3, Funny)
I thought the easiest way was being born into a rich family or winning the lottery. And as to "saving"... Honey, don't piss on my back and tell me it's raining; Most of us are living paycheck to paycheck, and we spend everything we get on basic necessities. We're not "consumer idiots" -- the technical term for people like us is fucking broke.
The technical term for people like you is "delusional". If you're living paycheck to paycheck, you're living the American Dream, a.k.a., you're living beyond your means. And guess what, you don't have the fucking right to live a lifestyle you can't support. Deal with it. You can start by spending the time you normally use to read Slashdot on doing something productive. It's not a basic necessity. Neither is your TV, DVD player, or going out to the pub. I'm sick to death of whiny bastards with an disproportionate sense of entitlement. Then again, asses who can't manage their money are my primary source of revenue. So I shouldn't complain.
Re:Immortality is scary (Score:5, Funny)
The one flaw I see in your plan is that I'm not a 90-year old man without arthritis. Other than that, your logic is excellent.
Re:Longer "Use by" dates on mice (Score:2, Funny)
what freaky women do you date??