In a message dated 8/31/00 11:48:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time, paul@planetp.cc
writes:
<< I believe Roy Walfords longevity studies spanning over 40 years have
demonstrated that maximum lifespan can be extended through carefully planned
caloric restriction. >>
As far as anyone has been able to prove no human being has lived passed the
age of 120 years. With caloric restriction this may be passed, by not by
much IMHO. In experiments with caloric restriction in animals there is a
trend in the ability to increase maximum life span and the complexity of the
animal. Protozoan life spans have been increased by 92% while the life spans
of rats by 42%. Guppies were only 9%. A slower metabolism is sure to slow
down our rate of cell division in some cell lines but I'd be curious to see
how it effects others. Skin, kidney, or liver cells for example. Also there
is the fact that most humans never come close to reaching the maximum life
span. How does the Hayflick limit correspond to this?
My own opinion is that in the next ten or fifteen years we will be able to
isolate, genetically repair, and then clone our own stem cells. Telomeres
would be built back up, mutations fixed, and then any part of our bodies
needing to be will be replaced. Whether it be an entire organ or a fresh
injection of cells to diseased parts. The basis for this is already here and
holds much more promise then cryonics, diets, supplements, and other life
extending therapies which have limited scientific validity.
Jacques Mathieu
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