Excelife wrote in message <6oos5e$b2s$1 at birch.prod.itd.earthlink.net>...
<EDITED OUT>
>>> Dr. C. Greider
>>> in current biology Vol. 8, No. 5, Feb. 1998 showed that the precursor to
>the
>>> enzyme telomerase, hTERT, can, by acting on the telomeres, cause human
>cells
>>> to live beyond their normal senescence and death.
>>>>>> In plain english they have found the cause and the cure for aging.
A key component to it.
>>>>>> There are, of course, a lot of caveats and restrictions like it doesnt
>work
>>> on nerve or other non-reproducing cells and there is still no concrete
>>> evidence that cellular aging is directly related to survival of the
entire
>>> organism, and uncontrolled telomerase activity does lead to cancer but
>this
>>> is nit-picking.
Cancer is generally caused from UN-CONTROLLED replication and damaged dna.
Studies have been done, and telomerase enhanced NORMAL cells do not become
cancerous.
>>> Over the next five to ten years this legitimate scientific research is
going
>>> to extend your life span!
Yes. Thats why I'm a Biologist.
>>I've been wondering... is the introduction of
>>hTERT into a cell a one-time operation, or does
>>it eventually "wear out" and have to be re-
>>introduced?
There are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration in
regards to this.
(ie. environmental damage with toxics.... etc....)
My understanding is that is remains active.
>You have, apparently intentionally, hit on one of the keys to the problem.
>If the first case is true then the cell line would be "immortal" and would
>exhibit the uncontrolled growth we normally associate with cancer.
>>In the latter case you would have a finite growth of the cell line which
>could continue functioning normally. There would be additional cellular
mass
>based on the number of additional reproductions the cell line experienced
but
>these cells would eventually lose their telemeric length, enter senescence
>and in due course die. It would just take a little bit longer!
I won't talk about this part. Sorry. It deals with my research.
>If extending the life of somatic cells can translate into extended life for
>the entire organism....
I'll let you know is 200 years. (i'm not kidding.)
