Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Bible Humper · 08-25-2003, 04:08 PM

Just wondering about how "close" science is to being able to prevent our cells from stopping themselves from replicating.

Maybe that isn't quite right, but from what I remember reading, this, or something like this, was the main thing that causes our bodies to wear down.

I would imagine that lots of resources are being thrown at this little question, but I have no clue what the practical hurdles are that must first be dealt with.

Is hoping that some big breakthrough will end the aging process in our lifetimes a total pipe dream?

Tom Sawyer · 08-26-2003, 07:06 AM

What you're talking about is an enzyme called Telomerase.

The basic theory behind it is that when cells split, the Telomerase gets smaller and that's what causes cells to die eventually. If they can find a way to make the Telomerase stay the same length during cell splitting, then the cells won't eventually die off.

Type in "Telomerase research" on Google and you will get a lot of hits on this. I'm not sure which are good and which aren't.

Bible Humper · 08-26-2003, 07:28 AM

Thanks Tom.

orpheus last chant · 08-27-2003, 01:11 AM

From what I remember wasn't it that in cancer cells that enzyme is tricked into staying the same lenght thus making the cell "immortal"?

And that would help keep replicating cells alive longer, but what about the neurons?

And could we be able to make artificial cells? (And transfere ourselves to robots?)

Wounded King · 08-27-2003, 02:10 AM

There is something of a misaprehension being propagated here.

Telomerase is indeed an enzyme, what it does is maintain the length of telomeres which are regions of highly repetitive DNA at the end of chromosomes which are thought to be important in chromosome stability. Every time the cell divides the telomeres shorten and telomerase acts to extend them again.

This normally only occurs in specific types of cell such as the cells of the developing embryo, in stem cells and in cancer cells.

In a normal somatic cell telomerase is inactive and the telomeres shorten and never extend after cell division, given enough divisions this shortening will lead to problems with the chromosome and normally to the cell line dying.

The exact role of telomerase and telomeres in human aging is unclear. What makes a cell line or a cancer 'immortal' will not neccessarily make a human being immortal..

Gothic_J · 08-27-2003, 03:40 AM

live in a space station, no gravity slows aging. stem cell research and cloning of organs replaces old parts, and I suppose cybernetics will help the rest.

yes, I am optimistic about the future. ^^

wordsmyth · 08-27-2003, 04:04 AM

I'm pessimistic, so I imagine if they ever do find a way to halt aging or even slow it down considerably, it will most likely be soon after I die.

FoE · 08-27-2003, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gothic_J
live in a space station, no gravity slows aging.

Does it though?

Tom Sawyer · 08-27-2003, 01:44 PM

Quote:

I'm pessimistic, so I imagine if they ever do find a way to halt aging or even slow it down considerably, it will most likely be soon after I die.

If that happened to me, I would so be haunting the scientists who didn't work fast enough to let me in on it.

Stupid scientists

Foxfire · 08-27-2003, 02:24 PM

Heh, this is one of the reasons I'm considering a career in nanobiotechnology (NBT) research.

08-25-2003, 04:08 PM	#1
Bible Humper Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,125	Could aging be stopped in our lifetimes? Just wondering about how "close" science is to being able to prevent our cells from stopping themselves from replicating. Maybe that isn't quite right, but from what I remember reading, this, or something like this, was the main thing that causes our bodies to wear down. I would imagine that lots of resources are being thrown at this little question, but I have no clue what the practical hurdles are that must first be dealt with. Is hoping that some big breakthrough will end the aging process in our lifetimes a total pipe dream?

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08-26-2003, 07:06 AM	#2
Tom Sawyer Talk Freethought Staff Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Toronto, eh Posts: 42,293	What you're talking about is an enzyme called Telomerase. The basic theory behind it is that when cells split, the Telomerase gets smaller and that's what causes cells to die eventually. If they can find a way to make the Telomerase stay the same length during cell splitting, then the cells won't eventually die off. Type in "Telomerase research" on Google and you will get a lot of hits on this. I'm not sure which are good and which aren't.

08-26-2003, 07:28 AM	#3
Bible Humper Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,125	Thanks Tom.

08-27-2003, 01:11 AM	#4
orpheus last chant Veteran Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Romania Posts: 4,975	From what I remember wasn't it that in cancer cells that enzyme is tricked into staying the same lenght thus making the cell "immortal"? And that would help keep replicating cells alive longer, but what about the neurons? And could we be able to make artificial cells? (And transfere ourselves to robots?)

08-27-2003, 02:10 AM	#5
Wounded King Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 1,211	There is something of a misaprehension being propagated here. Telomerase is indeed an enzyme, what it does is maintain the length of telomeres which are regions of highly repetitive DNA at the end of chromosomes which are thought to be important in chromosome stability. Every time the cell divides the telomeres shorten and telomerase acts to extend them again. This normally only occurs in specific types of cell such as the cells of the developing embryo, in stem cells and in cancer cells. In a normal somatic cell telomerase is inactive and the telomeres shorten and never extend after cell division, given enough divisions this shortening will lead to problems with the chromosome and normally to the cell line dying. The exact role of telomerase and telomeres in human aging is unclear. What makes a cell line or a cancer 'immortal' will not neccessarily make a human being immortal..

08-27-2003, 03:40 AM	#6
Gothic_J Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New England Posts: 1,290	live in a space station, no gravity slows aging. stem cell research and cloning of organs replaces old parts, and I suppose cybernetics will help the rest. yes, I am optimistic about the future. ^^

08-27-2003, 04:04 AM	#7
wordsmyth Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Des Moines, Ia. U.S.A. Posts: 521	I'm pessimistic, so I imagine if they ever do find a way to halt aging or even slow it down considerably, it will most likely be soon after I die.

08-27-2003, 02:24 PM	#10
Foxfire Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Willoughby, Ohio Posts: 153	Heh, this is one of the reasons I'm considering a career in nanobiotechnology (NBT) research.

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