Genetics P I N G !!!
Posted on 02/07/2002 6:19:20 AM PST by Starmaker
Question:
Who wants to live forever?
Answer:
A lot of people do.
Recently, scientists found something that may help. It won't grant anyone immortality, but it may begin to unravel some of the many mysteries of aging.
In Iceland, scientists have identified a small, mysterious stretch of DNA, a stretch of DNA with unusual effects. They have named it the Methuselah Gene.
The namesake for the gene was, of course, the Biblical Methuselah. A descendant of Adam and Eves son Seth, he is said to have lived for over nine hundred years. These days, people don't live nearly as long. There is a British woman whose age is authenticated at 113, and there was a French woman who lived for 122 long years.
However, humans living past the century mark are rare. Humans wanting to live that long are quite common, thus the excitement over the Methuselah gene.
It is being researched right now by the Icelandic biotechnology firm, DeCode Genetics. The firm´s CEO, Kari Stefansson, spoke about exploring the gene´s potential.
“There is no reason why we cannot do this,” said Stefansson, “We know the location of this gene. Soon we will study its exact DNA sequence and work out how it works in the body. You can then think of making drugs that could replicate its action.”
The gene was found by company researchers who traced birth and death records in Iceland. These records are unique, and trace back to the era of Viking eminence in that corner of the world. They allowed researchers to compare and contract Icelandic citizens who had lived for nine decades or longer.
A possibility was advanced: would 1200 Icelanders with an unusually long life span have something genetically in common with one another? Something which was not shared with a “control” group of 1200 shorter-lived Icelanders with comparable lifestyles?
The possibility was advanced. It had two subordinate postulates: the long-lived group might lack genes which predisposed others to potentially life-shortening medical conditions...or they might have a single gene which, for reasons which have as yet only been speculated on, extended the life of those lucky enough to have it.
DeCode researchers began their search for interesting genes in the genetic material of long-lived Icelanders.
“We simply did not know, until we studied our markers, and to our surprise found that old age behaved as if it was being conferred by a simple, single gene,” said DeCode CEO Stefansson. “Somehow this gene is making a protein in the body that is helping people live to ripe old ages.”
They had wondered if this could be possible. They had speculated on the possibility of such a gene. Now, they have found it.
What next? Are there other genes, more potent still then Methuselah? What mysteries in the DNA code have yet to be unraveled? And what do they have to offer to the future of humanity?
Someone, a long time ago, wrote something very complex and beautiful in genetic letters.
Slowly, one letter by one letter, we are beginning to read it. We could spend our lives, perhaps, reading it with out ever expending it all. Then again, that depends on how long are lives on Earth turn out to be.
Who wants to live forever? After all these years, it´s still an interesting question.
Genetics P I N G !!!
Some scientists recently made some transgenic mice who were resistant to cancer. Whatever caused that wonderful, cancer-free life, however, severely shortened the lifespan of these mice. What if tweaking this longevity gene cost us our ability to experience pleasure?
Regards,
(From the musical, Porgy and Bess)
Just depends what side you're on.
What if the gals are 900 years old too???
Yes.
Less green, but essentially, yes.
Must there be? Why or why not?
No way, not me. Imagine seeing everyone you ever loved grow old and die while you always stayed the same age. I would imagine that a true methuselah would have severe mental problems (schizophrenia, depression) by the time he or she reached 150 or so, just from the continuous ongoing change and repeated losses of friends and family. I'd hate to spend eternity in a rubber room or prison.
Give me my threescore and ten, then give me my bunk at the Dirtnap Arms.
Look, at the time the story of Methusela was being told, other cutures, surrounding the Hebrews, were also telling stories about fabulously old people. When today's archiologists and translators finally got down to the nitty-gritty, they discovered that this age inflation was due to a completely different way of calculation.
I come from a family of very longer livers. I have NO desire to live forever, and am not crazy about living to be 95, either.
The real question should be - where do I want to spend eternity???
Generation Z??? Now, is that like Dragonball Z? If so, then kewl! No, the Baby Boomer attitude on death can be basically summed up by the phrase "Am I in the will? Huh, huh, am I???"
A descendant of Adam and Eves son Seth, he is said to have lived for over nine hundred years.
These days, people don't live nearly as long.
How about Methuselah"s son Enoch the seventh from Adam who did not die.
The scriptures state that he walked with God and God was pleased with him and He translated(took) him, which is more than the scriptures say about anybody else leaving this life without the death of the body preceding the event.
What about Elijah? (2Kings 2:11)
You are correct, but I purposefully did not mention Elijah for the sake of brevity.
But outside of those two no other living person has bypassed physical death to my knowledge, not even the Lord Jesus, to this day.
Am I in error?
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