A gene known as DAF-16 is strongly involved in determining the rate of aging and the average lifespan in laboratory worms C. elegans and is also found in many other animals, including humans
Scientists who received funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Council at the University of Birmingham discovered that a gene known as DAF-16 is strongly involved in determining the rate of aging and the average lifespan in laboratory worms Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and its evolutionary relatives. DAF-16 is also found in many other animals, including humans. It is possible that this knowledge could open up new ways to change the direction of aging as well as help the immune system and resistance to stressful situations in humans. The study was published in the journal PLoS ONE.
Dr. Robin May, who led the research, said: "Aging is a process that all creatures experience, but at different rates. We know that even among the species closest to us, lifespan can vary dramatically. We wanted to know how normal aging is controlled by genes and what effect these genes have on other characteristics such as the immune system. In order to do this, we examined the gene we know so far to be involved in the aging process, known as DAF-16 to see how it might determine the differences in the rate of aging between the sexes."
Dr. May and his colleagues compared the longevity, resistance to stress and vaccination in four different species of worms. They also looked for differences in gene activity in each of the four species and found that they all differed in this respect. More importantly, the differences in DAF-16 were consistent with differences in longevity, resistance to stress and immunity between the four species. In general, a higher level of DAF-16 gene activity was manifested in longer life, better resistance to stress and better immunity against some plagues.
Dr. May continues: "DAF-16 is part of a group of genes that drive the biological process involved in aging, vaccination and response to environmental and physical constraints. The fact that there are differences in gene activity between different species that cause such a strong effect on aging and health is very interesting and may explain the differences in lifespan and the traits associated with it that have arisen during evolution."
Research at the University of Birmingham continues to examine ways in which DAF-16 coordinates a complex network of genes to balance the differences required by an individual's immune system over time.
Prof. Douglas Kell added: "The research used model animals that reveal the basis of aging and give us an opportunity to understand some of the mechanisms that determine how humans age while maintaining good or at least normal health. It is very important to develop a good understanding of healthy aging if we want to appreciate what happens to the physiology of the old people when they become ill or experience difficulties in their daily tasks such as memory or orientation in the environment. Improving the quality of life to reflect increased life expectancy is an important topic of BBSRC research." added
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More people means more power, the question is how to do it. If the old man remains on the fringes of society like a flower whose spring has passed and is now waiting to wither - he will indeed be a burden.
But if the status of the elderly is changed and they allow him to be an active part and contribute to society until a late age - he will not be a burden, on the contrary. And on top of that, if it's expensive, wouldn't we have to change genes to extend the life of the earth in another decade or two, then a person who has a reason to get up in the morning is a person who will continue to wake up.
See entry: Shimon Peres.
To Ray Kurzweil call,
It turns out that there are more chances to live forever without "uniting with the machine" and reaching the "singularity". It is enough to take care of some "unnecessary" garden. Then we will also live long enough to be proven to know what a pile of empty fantasies were blown into the air as part of the vision of the future of "the best of our time".
I very much agree with Eden in this section.
Imagine a world where the average age is not 80 but 120. People will run much less quickly everywhere. The economy and population will adjust itself because people will also have children at older ages. They will want more time for themselves.
Ambitious people (not necessarily financially, but more mentally) will be able to develop themselves not for 50 years today, but for 70 years. Another 20 years for the research of a brilliant mind.
In everything you can find bad things (population explosion, lack of food), but it is better and worth finding the good things
First of all, I'm a boy.
You don't understand that a 100 year old would not be considered an elderly person for example and he would be an adult physically
And from a psychological point of view, I wish what you would say is true and all the seniors in the government would turn their chairs away already... The fact that there are people who refuse to develop is one thing, but it will also change over time because today's young generation lives on developments and new things and is used to receiving something new every Monday and Thursday .
Eden,
Unfortunately, you can see today the effect that the extension of life expectancy has on the rest of life, such as the increase in apartment prices, food shortages, price increases. And such only in the financial matter (because usually, the older you are, the more savings you have, and the greater purchasing power). I'm not talking about the social issue, and the consequences for a geriatric population, for the desire for young people to have children. Of course there are also the issues mentioned by my predecessors.
In addition there is the whole psychological and mental issue of life extenders. My father is 67 years old, and doesn't do well with computers. It is difficult for adults to keep up with the modern pace of life that only accelerates.
Holm belongs to the young, it was true and it will remain true. there's nothing to do
Besides, they say there are two certain things in life. Income tax and death.
Do you really just want to pay income tax?!
To Aden, philosophically, you are right, but think of a nation whose population is mostly elderly people over the age of 100, which requires enormous resources at the expense of children's education, natural disasters such as the rain forests in Brazil and Indonesia, all of which are disappearing to fight the natural processes of birth, life and death
To Idan and Max, how from the positive do you choose to look at the negative part...
People like you have no value to the lives of others and more than that to your own lives, you are dangerous to the rest of the world and if you don't value your time that you live here, don't think that everyone is like you.
Because when the time comes they will think that the earth will be full of people with the views you present here will start killing people because they have no place among us?
Instead of thinking about solutions how to live together without killing, find new living areas, etc.
Literally countries with a huge population, Bona you are smarter than Idan….. No!!!!!
David Idan is right, already today countries in Europe, North America and Japan suffer from problems of an aging population that consumes large resources, it comes at the expense of other needs, nothing good has come out of the fact that the population will be over 100 years old.
Idan will get worse. Those who will benefit from it are if only the rich.
The poor will remain in the same situation for a maximum age of 30, but with 10 children...
David - are you sure this is the right direction??
You can live longer means more people on the planet = more pollution more crime more unemployed....
If you have to develop epidemics and viruses that will wipe out 40-50% of the population
Gotta do something to west the business otherwise it won't be good for anyone...
If you want to invest in colonies on the moon or Mars, then from my side people will live as long as they want
Wow
Truly a spectacular discovery
Let's hope that it will affect the longevity of people for the better and quickly..
Science is moving in the right direction and needs financial support
It is better to invest in science than in wars (: