Study Challenges View on Aging Research [amazing implications]

Univ. So. Cal. Newsroom ^ | 17 November 2005 | Carl Marziali

[PatrickHenry]

Not quite a validation of intelligent design, but everyone be nice.

[PatrickHenry]

Evolution Ping The List-O-Links

A conservative, pro-evolution science list, now with over 320 names. See the list's explanation, then FReepmail to be added or dropped. To assist beginners: But it's "just a theory", Evo-Troll's Toolkit, and How to argue against a scientific theory.

[Monti Cello]

I cannot afford to age. I still have to generate offspring, but I don’t have enough food to do it now

That's what I tried telling my girlfriend, just before she hit the road.

[SMARTY]

"Longo urged caution in extrapolating the result to humans."

Appropriate name

[doc30]

It would be ironic if the anti-aging genes also regulate weight. If, in nature, it is switch because of starvation, artificially inducing the switch would lead to a very, very long life, possibly with obesity as a result. In other words, you could live 300 years, but you have to be fat.

[aimhigh]

Not quite a validation of intelligent design,

Sure it is. When God created Adam and Eve, they lived for hundreds of years. Over time, due to sin, genetics deteriorated and shortened our life spans. There's no evidence here of accidental improvement in life span.

[Quark2005]

When God created Adam and Eve, they lived for hundreds of years.

Why, is there evidence that the SIR 2 gene wasn't present in ancient humans?

Over time, due to sin, genetics deteriorated and shortened our life spans.

Genes don't just deteriorate. Mutations can be benificial or detrimental - and genetic complexity can increase in subsequent generations.

There's no evidence here of accidental improvement in life span.

Accidental, no. Do to better health practices, nutrition, sanitation, vaccinations, etc. our lifespan is longer than at any time in recorded history.

[elbucko]

There's no evidence here of accidental improvement in life span.

Conversely, there's no evidence of an intentional improvement in life span as well.

[elbucko]

When God created Adam and Eve, they lived for hundreds of years.

Why, is there evidence that the SIR 2 gene wasn't present in ancient humans?

I would be interested if the SIR 2 gene is also present in the chimpanzee. If it is, maybe it's God's way of indicating that ID is bunk and Evo is the path to knowledge. Just a thought.

[spinestein]

I hope I never see the day when people can arbitrarily extend their life spans to many times their natural length.

[GOPPachyderm]

That would be a sad irony and a difficult choice for Paris Hilton I'm sure!

[VadeRetro]

So maybe we could live six times as long if we forced our bodies into this extreme crisis mode and simulated starvation and other extreme stresses upon ourselves. Or maybe it would just seem like six times as long.

I'm not gonna try it. Let's get Mikey to try it.

[zeugma]

Why, is there evidence that the SIR 2 gene wasn't present in ancient humans?

Why, yes. I recently concluded a complete DNA analysis of both Adam and Eve, and there is evidence that the "SIR 2" gene was a mutation resulting from an apple they'd eaten that had some really nasty toxins in it.

The SIR 2 gene allowed them to live, but their life became butal, nasty, and short.

HAND

[Quark2005]

If it is, maybe it's God's way of indicating that ID is bunk and Evo is the path to knowledge.

I don't think the idea of an "intelligent designer" is bunk, I just think it is bunk science.

In any case, if we could prove the gene was absent in early humans, it might the beginning of research indicating that people once actually did live longer (more analysis would be needed, of course...) All wildly speculative musings, though, at this point.

[elbucko]

I don't think the idea of an "intelligent designer" is bunk, I just think it is bunk science.

We agree. I stand corrected.

[ThinkDifferent]

Very interesting. Wonder if these guys will take a shot at the Mprize.

[JeffAtlanta]

I hope I never see the day when people can arbitrarily extend their life spans to many times their natural length.

Why?

[spinestein]

Death is necessary to make room for new life. Old people die to make room for young people, who bring with them new ideas and risk taking and vitality.

I would speculate that if a large percentage of humanity had the ability to extend their lives (to perhaps 500 years old) then the young people they would have to prevent from being born wouldn't be around to contribute those beneficial traits, leading to a stagnation of society.

I think this has already happened to a certain extent since the ability of modern medicine to extend people's lives to about 80 years, more than double what it used to be.

Of course I accept the benefits of modern preventive medicine and disease control for myself and everybody else who wants it, but if someone offered me a pill that would allow me to live to the age of 500 there is NO WAY I would take it.

[aimhigh]

Do to better health practices, nutrition, sanitation, vaccinations, etc. our lifespan is longer than at any time in recorded history.

The bible record has longer lifespans. But then you reject some recorded history.

[bvw]

I demand you take the pill and join AARP!