Re: How to increase lifespan indefinetely...

Einstein wrote:
> Hey,
>
> I have just read on the internet that the basic reason why we die in
> say 80-85 years is because of evolution. Yes, our bodies have just been
> designed to reproduce the genes to the next generation. So, after 50-60
> years, when the reproductive phase ends, then the evolution doesn't
> have anything to do with us. Why should evolution prevent us from dying
> when we do nothing to pass on genes and in fact use up resources which
> can be used by other organisms for reproduction. That is why we die.
> After the reproductive pahse, we do not do any good as far as
> preserving genes is concerned, so evolution lets other use the
> resources.
>

This is not the evolutionary theory of aging that I'm familiar with. In
that theory, organisms past the age of reproduction who have genes that
could increase longevity cannot pass these on to offspring. In other
words, selection for longevity doesn't occur, because longevity genes
aren't expressed until past the age of reporoduction. So the lifespan
remains fixed.

> One way to prevent natural death from aging is to keep reproducing
> indefinetely. This will certainly help evolution to select populations
> with larger life-spans. Thus, in long term, we can increase the life
> span of humans. I don't know what restricts the humans to keep on
> reproducing, but if can be possible, then we might live indefinately
> (well almost)...
>

If organisms can continue to produce offspring later in life, there will
be a gradual evolution of longer lifespans, as selection for longevity
genes takes place. This could take dozens of generations, however. For
humans, increased lifespans will come about through advances in medical
technology long before such slow evolution produces an effect.


--dkomo@xxxxxxxx



.

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