For instance, it is really easy to entice people suffering from aging diseases into experimental medical trials. People suffering from Alzheimer’s disease are well aware that their illness is serious and that there is no specific cure available – the experimental drugs provided no guarantee – they can either make one worse or slightly alleviate the pathology.

Clinical trial on aging diseases is something that can bring great results, but there are high risks. In order words, it is easy to have someone sick to entice on human trials but will someone who is free of any aging disease be willing to participate in similar research; to find a drug for longevity (healthy aging) knowing that there might be lots of risk involved.

For instance, the famous bio-gerontologist, Aubrey de Grey, suggest that it is possible to avoid cancer by putting an end to telomere shortening; Telomeres acts as protective ends to our chromosomes and do shorten during cell division. As cells continue to divide the telomere does steadily get shorter until a point that cells can no longer divide, and turn into a state of senescent. It has been believed that telomere shortening has evolved as an evolutionary way to prevent the emergence of cancerous cells. Apparently, most of the cancer cells tend to stimulate genes that increase the length of telomere and thereafter tumors starts to populate. In fact, Agar is very positive about Aubrey De Grey’s theoretical explanation, but he also says that he would definitely not want to be the first one to undergo human trials, after mice and monkey experiments.

The SENS [Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence] project interest different group of people, yet clinical trials have diverse risks. Elders who are healthy wouldn’t sign-in for clinical trials when it is possible to pay other people to carry out the dirty testing. In addition, there won’t be only one ‘cure’ for aging. Currently, multiple researches are addressing various age-related damages. In the struggle to find some cures, there will definitely be a dozen of failures.

In all medical researches, it is essential to conduct as many human trials as possible. SENS suggest that soon people will be able to live healthy up to an advance age.

In the future, will the poor become the susceptible to human trials? Maybe or maybe not. Accordingly, to Agar, it is certain that extensive animal models will be used before testing on humans – still the risk is highly present. Bio-informatics enterprises need to seriously evaluate how anti-aging interventions will affect the population.

Actually, Agar’s objections are somehow outdated as telomere treatment as a cure to increase longevity is already being realized. Regulating telomere length via different pathways is curing cancers. In addition, if Aubrey de Grey’s hypothesis is right than curing cancer will even lead to longer lifespan. Treating cancer with telomere therapies might help people to live longer and healthier.

In 2010, a Harvard report found that increasing the length of telomeres in mice can significantly increase the lifespan. According to Agar, the next step in telomere research will be to involve elders who are poor. This seems, to be a fallacy indeed, as rich people seem more enthusiastic in paying and extending their own lifespan. Currently, rich people are purchasing TA-65 a drug to increase the length of telomeres.

Source: Reason, Ta-65 and PR News Wire

Anti Aging, Health And Aging, Stem cells

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Recently, a group of research from University of Pittsburgh confirmed that they had found the secret behind a rodent’s fountain of youth.

In the University, there is a colony of progeria mice; mice which have been infected with a rare disease, inducing them to die from old age after 21 days. Yet, when the researcher group took these progeria mice, which were just about to die and injected them with stem cells taken from younger and healthier cousins the dying mice recovered and stayed alive for an addition 2 to 4 weeks.

Dr. Laura Niedernhofer, lead research said that the size and lifespan of these progeria mice could be triple through this method.

It is more than a century that researchers have been using mice for medical experiments. The mice used nowadays are tweaked and engineered, sharing blood, livers as well as brain tissues of other groups of species. The Pittsburgh progeria mice are, however, quite different from human and will probably not provide an immediate answer on how to increase human longevity.

Even so, engineered or so called re-made rodents are increasingly becoming alike to human; the disparity between man and mouse are slowly vanishing. Not only are the differences fading but researchers do nowadays even have a deeper knowledge of rodents than human and any other creature found on earth. For research, rodents are indispensable.

Some History: Mice & Laboratory Research

Ostensibly, the first vaccination against cancer was done on a mouse. In addition, mice do already have treatments for baldness as well as capsules to save them from Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, mouse is the only animal to have been involved in hoverboard-style levitation as well, they have had their brain simulated in a computer. They were even the first non-human mammal to have had their whole genome mapped.

Everything began in 1902, when a scientist named William Castle, brought pet mice to the Harvard Genetics Laboratory, and now rodents have been the back-bone of almost all the key drug treatments as well as medical procedures used in modern medical care. According to Dr. Janet Rossant, who is the senior scientist as well as chief research at Tornoto’s SickKids Research Institute, almost all the major drugs marketed today have been the result of mouse models in developing drugs.

Statistics are surprising; in 2010, a total of 1,132,706 mice had been killed in Canadian laboratories. In any year, mice make up to 50 percent of the animals used in laboratories, and the second most commonly used animal is rats.

There are strong similarities between humans and mice. They both have immune system, circulatory systems and skeletons. In addition, mice and human can suffer from similar health predicaments such as diabetes, cancer, heart diseases, and with some minor genetic modification, mice suffer even from Alzheimer’s disease and cystic fibrosis. In laboratory terms, using mice makes sense; they are cheap, have a lifespan of 12 weeks and are easy to maintain. In other words, in the term of a single semester, several studies can be completed.

According to Dr. Michele Martin, who is a veterinary director at the University of Victoria, apparently ‘almost any disease’ you can find you will come to know that there is ‘a mouse model’ that has been used to ‘describe it’.

In 1929, the Lab Mouse Pioneer C.C. Little, Jackson Laboratory was founded, which is today’s leading supplier of so called genetically modified mice. There are more than 5,000 different strains of mice in the laboratory. The cost for a classic ‘dilute brown’ mouse, which is the oldest in the catalogue is roughly $30 a piece. It was first developed in 1909.

In the beginning mice were changed in the same way as dog breeders had changed wolves into Chihuahuas; selective inbreeding. However, in the 1980s, genetic engineering was available and since then it has been much easier to tweak and create customized mice.

In 2002, the first non-human animal, the rodent had its whole genome mapped. The mice had 99% of its gene shared with humans. This gave rise to a whole new agenda of scientific research.

In modern research, mice are no longer kept in wire-bottom cages; they are placed in large collective cages. This makes the mice happier and for research, it is better to have normal animals involved in research for more accurate results.

From 2000 to 2009, the number of mice euthanized in Canadian Laboratory experiments amounted to 10 million, which are equivalent to 3,000 mice per day.

Universities in China, Korea and Japan have an annual memorial day every year to serve homage to all animals that have been killed in research as well as experiments. The ceremony is a way for research communities to show their indebtedness to laboratory animals; as today almost every pill bottle sold in pharmacy across the globe are the result of thousands of mice.

In 1929, penicillin was first discovered, but it was only in 1940 that Oxford University could understand how penicillin worked, and it was thanks to research conducted on mice. Similarly, meningitis as well as polio vaccines are mainly a result of the lab mice.

According to Dr. Rossant, mice are ‘very, very powerful systems’ to comprehend the distinct pathways of severe diseases. Yet, lab mice are not perfect. There is a dozen of cures available for cancer which works on mice but not yet on humans. In addition, Thalidomide is a drug that caused defects to almost 10,000 children, noting that it had no negative effects on mice.

The degenerative disease, ALS, which Stephen Hawking, the theoretical physicist suffers from have various rodent-based therapies – yet – the 70 years-scientist will probably not live long enough to see the therapy available for humans.

In the 100 years that mice have been used for research, the aim has always been to change the rodent into a so called tiny human being. Nowadays, rodents have human blood, humne immune system, human organs, and they even have the bad human traits such as violence, alcoholism, drug addiction as well as gluttony.

In December 2011, the U.S Based national Institute of Health, reduced funding for additional research on chimpanzees as a progressive step to prevent research on chimpanzee. Chimps have been considered to human to have laboratory experiments justified. Several countries around the world have mirrored the widespread discontent of chimpanzee research through the so called ‘save Gabon’

Yet, mice are increasingly becoming like human, as the engineered mice aren’t really as the traditional mice.

Source: national Post

Anti Aging, Bioscience, Stem cells

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Results conducted on fruit flies have been positive. However, whether these results are applicable to long lived species such as humans is still under scrutiny. Let’s first have a better understanding of the fruit flies. It is specie, which has a tremendously short lifespan; from being an egg to become an adult takes only 7 days. The short lifespan of fruit flies have made them a standard prototype of longevity research both for physiology and genetics studies.

A dedicated research team from The University of California, Los Angeles and Salk Institute for Biological studies altered the genes of the intestinal stem cells of the fruit fly (Drosophila Melanogaster). These cells are called dPGC-1, a cell structure present in human’s DNA under the name of PGC-1. The change induced the fruit flies’ intestine with slower aging, and therefore, they enjoyed a 50 percent longer lifespan.

For both mammals and flies, PGC-1 gene cells are responsible for the control of various mitochondria presents in animal’s cells. The mitochondria is considered as being the power plant, as it is where fats and sugar from food are turned into energy used for cellular performance. Earlier studies had shown that calorie-restriction provided animals with more mitochondria. So the scientists made a test to understand what would happen if PGC-1 were given an even higher excess of mitochondria.

Genetic engineering methods were used to make the Fruit flies’ PGC-1 gene alike to organisms that were under calorie restriction diets. In other words, the volume of mitochondria and energy in cells were increased. The effect after increasing the speed of the stem and progenitor cells of the fruit flies’ intestine was that the intestinal tissues experienced a better response mechanism and therefore, cells became healthier as well as the fruit flies lived longer.

In correlation to the level of genetic engineering induced to the fruit flies, their lifespan was extended by 20 to 50 percent in comparison to a normal fruit fly.

The scientists suggest that the PGC-1 can act as a potential biological tool to delay aging, and it would be possible to develop drug and therapies targeting this age-brake. According to, the team, the theory is that when dPGC-1 was boosted with mitochondria, the stem cell was stimulated to energize intestinal tissues and therefore, ensuring healthier intestines for the fruit flies.

According to Leanne Jones who is an associate professor at Salk’s laboratory of Genetics as well as the lead researcher of the project, delaying aging of crucial single organ such as for the current experiment the intestine can have significant benefits on overall longevity and health. For example, in case of disease, it might be essential to emphasis on having particular organs healthy and in this case, PGC-1 might be the pathway.

The complete research is available in November’s Cell Metabolism and at University of California, Los Angles and Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

Source: Gizmag, Salk Institute, Cell Metabolism and University of California.

Bioscience, Health And Aging, Stem cells

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For instance, HSCs that are present in adult mammals’ bone marrow does produce all the blood cells in our body. So unveiling the secret of the origin of these cells provide an advance understanding in how embryonic stem cells can be better used to produce new blood cells, which can be utilized for blood therapies.

Speck does also act as an Investigator for the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute and Penn. This study was recently released in the Cell Stem Cell.

According to speck, the main aim of stem-cell therapies is to inject stem cells into particular cell lineage to either substitute dead or diseased cells present both in children and adult humans. However, to be able to make this a reality, it is essential to comprehend how cells differentiate as an embryo.

In earlier studies, it was said that HSCs was derived from a minor population of cells lining blood vessels known as endothelial cells. Yet, it has been unexplained how endothelial cells could change to blood stem cells such as HSCs.

There are various stages that the embryo undergoes in the process of transiting to blood-cells. The first stage is the provision of a source of oxygen to the embryo, and the last stage is the final development of HSCs which will be present in adult bone marrow. The first phase of creating progenitors such as induced pluripotent stem cells or embryonic stem cells has successfully been done in laboratories. However, all effort and attempt to generate hematopoietic stem cells as been fruitless.

According to Speck, it is essential to understand the origin of HSCs, in order to be able to generate hematopoietic stem cells from induced pluripotent stem cells or embryonic cells.

This current study has helped haematologist to go one step ahead. Biologists are now able to produce blood cells from typical endothelial cells. These cells can equally be controlled in the embryo. However, HSCs can only be produced from particular endothelial cells. There were unique markers used to understand the sequence of how to produce HSCs. A marker, known as Ly6a when induced to endothelial cells generated HSCs while if not used other distinct waves of blood cells were produced in the first stage.

This recent discovery will support progress in research of HSCs, and this will be important in delivering effective stem-cell therapies to patients with leukemia (patients who are unable to identify appropriate donors will be able to produce HSCs from their own cells). It would also be suitable for patients with blood cancer who could have blood cells replaced with stem-cell therapies.

The research carried out by Nancy Speck, PhD, professor’s team was funded by the National Lung, Blood and heart Institute.

Source: Science Daily

Bioscience, Stem cells

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A study shows that even if there are no changes in the overall hereditary constituency of roundworms. They can pass on the characteristic such as an increased lifespan to their offspring via genes.

While it is uncertain if humans can be influenced in a similar manner, it was observed by the study organiser from Stanford University, Anne Brunet, that human lifespan was later found to be affected by the very genes which influenced that of roundworms. She said that in various instances, this species of worms has been a good example for the human species. Humans have a lifespan which is 2,000 times the length the worm.

Whether the process exhibited by the nematode species ‘Caenorhabditis elegans’ applies to species such as rodents and fish, which follow an evolution pattern similar to humans, is currently being examined by Anne’s team. This kind of phenomenon, where offspring inherits only the changes in the usage of the DNA rather than changes in the DNA, itself, is known as ‘Epigenetic Inheritance’. Along with the development of animals, minute marks, the likes of Post-its, highlight their genes and protein constituents, instructing which DNA strands to be replicated without any modifications in the basic structure. With the birth of their offspring, the marks are supposed to change, but some remain constant.

According to Anne Brunet who is from Stanford University, and the lead author of the study says that the concept of epigenetic inheritance plays a significant part in intricate characteristics such as extended lifespan, and also ailments such as Cancer, Diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. She says that these conditions are influenced by our genes and also the way we care for ourselves, but the traits and actions of our forefathers are also something which we need to consider.

Processes such as reprogramming cells into stem cells or cloning are highly dependent on retaining and/or eliminating certain of these epigenetic marks could be improvised with the aid of genetic studies. In due course, these marks can even be altered by experts in order to increase lifespan or bring down the possibility of diseases that are hereditary.

The international journal ‘Nature’ published this newest discovery on 19th October 2011. It all started with Brunet’s student Eric Greer and his experiment with nematodes exhibiting changes in the genomic sequence; in one out of three genes; SET-2, WDR-5 and ASH-2. This set of genes dictates the packaging of our DNA. Apparently, it altered our genes from compact structure into a loosely bound form where the sequence could easily be identified.

A disorder in one out of the three genes can cause several strands of genes to clamp together. This makes it difficult to reach several of the genes available and even those responsible for the process of ageing. The result is astounding – a 20 to 30 percent increase in the life span of the worms was experienced with having one of the genes faulty. .

The breeding of these genetically altered worms was carried out by Greer in such a manner that a part of their next generation carried the same pattern of genes. However, in spite of the DNA being normal, the offspring exhibited a longer lifespan. This pattern was repeated thrice. Recently, epigenetic inheritance has been observed in many instances by experts, such as, color of hair in mice, symmetrical flower patterns and many similar things. Brunet, however, said that they did not expect that it could be possible to inherit an intricate characteristic such as increased lifespan by techniques, which were non-genetic.

University of Adelaide’s Professor Emma Whitelaw praised the beauty of the discovery. She said that epigenetic inheritances spanned across multiple generations have many controversial ideas attached to it, and it is not easy to eliminate genetic disparities that are not detected.

However, in the research conducted by Greer, the discontinuation of longevity trend after three generations suggests that it is unlikely that DNA changes are involved. Whitelaw said that these developments will encourage scientists to explore the idea in a more serious manner.

The concept of epigenetic inheritance is frequently viewed as a revolutionary step in the history of evolution. It appears to take us back to Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, whose opinions were disregarded as incorrect, when he put forth the idea that parental characteristics could be inherited by the offspring.

Brunet said that, owing to the newly found facts that change in genes can be transmitted the next three immediate generations, people finally have understood that genes don’t dictate everything. However, this does not imply that Lamarck’s views were correct; it is now clear that some characteristics are influenced by epigenetic impressions.

Leiden University Medical Center’s Dr. Bas Heijmans emphasized on the fact that modern understanding of evolution is by no way contradicted by epigenetic inheritance. If it improves the success rate of an organism in passing forth its genes, then it will be allowed to evolve by natural selection – Darwinian fitness.

By alerting the forthcoming generation before time, of the issues being faced by the present lot of organisms, epigenetic inheritance could present them with a temporary benefit. For instance, in case of famine, passing the information ahead could prove beneficial, said Brunet.

It is impossible to estimate the implications of this in the long run. The discontinuation of the extended lifespan of the worms bred by Greer after three generations is similar to most of the other instances of epigenetic inheritance. The species are not likely to endure a permanent impact. Brunet said that this phenomenon is not a permanently evolving thing.

Related articles:
1. Stress a Natural Phenomenon, which is passed on to Future Generations through Epigenetic
2. We Can Be In Charge Of Our Genes
3. Epigenomic Changes in DNA methylation and Histone Actylation
4. Programmed Epigenomic Changes

Source: Guardian

Anti Aging, Gerontology, Longevity, Stem cells

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An article in Thursday’s issue of Scientific Reports states that researchers have created a new drug that can improve the longevity of mice by 44 percent in contrast to those not given the drug. The latter is a synthetic composite known as SRT1720 that was devised by Sirtris, a pharmaceutical company located in Cambridge, Mass.

The New York Times published that studies are actually being conducted to verify variations of SRT1720 on human beings. The aim is to generate a pill which will make this drug’s benefits accessible to the general public.

An interview was carried out with David Sinclair and Dr. Christoph Westphal, two of three co-chairs of Sirtris’ Scientific Advisory Board by “Nightline” in 2007. While Sinclair was the company’s scientific genius, Westphal was its principal investor.

Both David Sinclair and Dr Christoph Westphal are eager to exploit the former’s discovery; that is resveratrol. This is an ingredient of red wine which stimulated the genes that directed aging. Consequently, the mice injected with this substance lived 30 percent longer than those which didn’t undergo this experiment. Obviously, SRT1720 has the same properties as resveratrol.

According to Sinclair, resveratrol is similar to Pac-Man governing the cells and subsequently, it becomes more vigorously effective. Eventually the cells’ increased efficiency enhances the metabolic rate, general health of the cell itself which is then more immune to afflictions of aging.

Westphal emphasizes that if their experiments are conclusive, these drugs will be immensely triumphant ones as they have the power to cure serious diseases. Indubitably, they may transform the lives of humankind.

Watch Online Here:

Source: ABC News

Anti Aging, Gerontology, Health And Aging, Stem cells

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Drugs seem to be the upcoming cure for aging. The drug will protect our telomeres, which is an essential part of our DNA, protecting us from harmful effects of aging. Nevertheless, the drug isn’t yet certified as safe for humans. Test will probably be performed on animals such as cats and dogs, by introducing them into pet food before bringing it on humans.

Interesting Article to highlight Telomeres role in aging: Telomere Shortening and Damage

It has since long been considered that aging is associated with an enzyme known as telomeres. This enzyme can reverse the process of aging itself. Over our lifespan, our telomeres shorten and this triggers the aging process.

The ‘American research team led by Andrews’ believes that a solution has been found to reverse aging. In their opinion, they might have found the secret to unlock extreme longevity.

They have combined nearly 40 different substances to create an imitation of the enzyme. So possibly with this new ‘magical pill’, it might be possible to induce cells to generate telomerase. This would be a magical medical advancement if found effective.

According to the team, the substances can surely induce telomerase however, it will still take several years until such ‘drugs’ will be approved for human usage.

Fortunately, for pets, the regulations are less stringent. So, the drugs might enter the pet markets and bring more solid signs of success.

Source: Times of India

Anti Aging, Anti Aging Supplements, Stem cells

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Researchers from three different institutions have been working in collaboration to successfully show that human skin cells can be changed into brain cells, through the suppression of the availability of enzyme p53. It is a protein that is by default coded into oncogene. In other words, the research that involved Children’s hospital of Orange County (CHOC) in California, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) and Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in New York, proposed that p53 alteration is deeply responsible for the fate of cells.

It has often been assumed that oncogenes are genes which have been mutated; so they have transformed healthy cells into bad and cancerous tumor cells.

According to the findings that were published in American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Jiang F. Zhong Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology from the Keck School says that reality seems more complex than most people suggest. It is highly possible that stem cell genes and cancer genes are one and the same thing.

Zhong said that it is believed that if p53 is suppressed, the cells will become cancerous as we tend to emphasise on damaging results. However, study showed that the cell turned more plastic, which means that there is something good in it. Let’s take an analogy of an employee who loses his job, which in our case is the suppression of p53. This individual could either turn into a criminal or he could find a second job and induce positive results into the society. Currently, we are unsure what will push the individual either ways, as our surroundings and being are highly complex.

In our body, stem cells differentiate and divide into varied categories of cells. For humans, the so called embryonic stem cells change into three categories or rather types of cells. Until now, scientists are still uncertain as to how this process of differentiation really works.

Yet, we know that these different layers of cells generate tissues and organs. For instance, the endoderm leads to the development of lungs, colon and stomach. On the other side, mesoderm layers lead to the formation of bone, blood and heart tissues. In the study carried out by Zhong’s team of researchers, human skin cells were scrutinized. Human skin cells are highly associated to neural and brain cells which are formed by ectoderm.

It was found that the suppression of p53 turned skin cells into ostensible human embryonic stem cells. In contrast to the ‘pluripotent’ cells which are man-made and can be changed into any type of body cell, these cells could only be differentiated into cells found in the same family or germ layer which is for the skin cell; ectoderm.

The induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) are extremely hard to control, as they can be changed into different type of cells. However, the skin cells that were suppressed by p53, turned only into different cells in the ectoderm linage.

Zhong believes that the suppression of other types of oncogenes would generate the similar effect. The finding of the study can be proved to be highly important for the advancement of stem cell therapy.

According to Zhong, future studies might find which genes should be controlled and manipulated for various treatments.

Source: China Daily

Anti Aging, Bioscience, Stem cells

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In an outstanding article written by Mike Darwin in the year 1991 (COLD WAR: The Conflict between Cryonicists and Cryobiologists), an in-depth story about the causes of this particular war was published, and a conclusion was drawn that the problem was triggered by a disagreement in standards between several important people and not by cryonics science itself. Cryobiologists then assumed the need to cease all connections with the ghastly news from the mass about the first few human cryonic preservation efforts, hence turning the conflict into a hideous, prolonged battle.

This worsened the situation. Several well-known cryobiology experts provocatively flagged cryonics as a pointless attempt and called for a widespread ban on human cryopreservation rather than resolving to a more peaceful way – offering a suggestion to shut down cryonic procedures momentarily until a set of rules is available to highlight the lowest standard needed to perform cryopreservation. Offended by the cryobiologists and in anger over their stolen fundamental human rights, the Cryonics retaliated and carried on with their unprofessional cryopreservations of which everyone in this modern scientific world sees as “next to hopeless”.

Consecutively, the cryobiologists commenced on eliminating the qualifications of cryonicists as well as on turning down their proposals and financial requests. This common bitterness has been deeply rooted for tens of years.

Darwin claimed that both cryonics advocates and cryobiologists were close to ruining each other in the mentioned “Cold War”. The cryobiological community’s once alluring objective to propose “reversible suspended animation” for urgent medical applications and for journeys into the outer space turned into ashes. This was all, because their wide-known perceptions on cryonic preservation killed the interest of most enthusiasts in the stated technology.

On the other hand, the cryobiologists’ anti-cryonics protests that were publicly visible drastically slowed the development pace of the cryonics field. Most proficient and financially stable research centers (that used to race against each other to idealize the cryonic techniques) lost enthusiasm in advancing the technology.

Indeed, the community of cryonics has suffered a more significant loss. Perhaps, if professional cryobiologists did not wage war against their cryonics counterparts, the idea of having a proficient team of cryonicists ready upon request to carry out an in-time and first-class emergency cryopreservation in every hospital may not be that far-fetched. Unfortunately, current cryonics companies are “unregulated” and are providing services under law restrictions that prohibit ideal cryopreservation. Not to mention, these companies are also at risk of bankruptcy.

Kenneth Hayworth has a strong faith that the Brain Preservation Technology Prize will terminate the “Cold War”. Previous cryonic preservation discussions by the majority group of scientists have all the time been structured by cryobiologists who think cryonics should be dubbed “quack medicine” until the resuscitation of a cryopreserved “dead” individual is made possible. Irritated by this traditional argument, the Brain Preservation Technology Prize is structured to link cryonics to the neuroscience society’s ambitions by posting a question regarding the promise cryonics hold in preserving the brain’s exact synaptic connectivity pattern which, as indentified by neurobiologists, encodes the memories and personality of an individual.

Mainstream neuroscientists, who are greater in numbers, more acknowledged and financially more secure than the cryobiologists, hold great hopes about the potential of cryonics. The hypothetical knowledge of molecules, synapses, neurons, neural network and systems, as well as the imaging techniques for locating unique synaptic connections have advanced incredibly during recent years.

In the past seven years, the inventions of various modern automated electron imaging techniques have allowed nanometer resolution of the image of a plastic implanted and chemically fixated brain tissue piece. All neural synaptic circuits in a tiny block can then be analyzed with sureness. Recently, a document in the Nature magazine utilized one of the automated electron imaging techniques to recreate the exact neural connectivity in a retina’s cells and further compared the image with existing data extracted from active and working neurons. It is deduced that traced neuron-to-neuron wiring within the plastic block could be used to guess the initial roles of the neurons.

Hayworth has had plenty of non-public interviews with neurobiologists throughout the decade and have discovered that nearly all of his neuroscience associates foresee the invention of completely simulated brains with human-like intellect and consciousness. Due to the development of the electron imaging techniques mentioned, neurobiologists are now more open to opinions regarding the likelihood of drawing a whole human brain diagram at the synapse-level resolution and the possibility of creating an artificial brain. Most of them also concur that the thoughts of each human can be uploaded into computers by “scanning” the collective circuits of the brain.

Hayworth is very confident that both cognitive science and neuroscience experts will willingly accept the challenge outlined in the Brain Preservation Technology Prize, seeing that they are already prepared to dedicate themselves to build a promising scientific future. He eagerly anticipates a turning point in the mind-set of the entire scientific society towards the concept of cryonic preservation, as soon as the first few groups start to demonstrate significant advancement towards the goals of the prize. The “Cold War”, as Hayworth believes, will be terminated, and both scientific and cryonics society will move forward to a new scientific era where the two opposing groups will learn to work together.

Source: Alcor Org
 

Anti Aging, Immortality, Longevity, Nanotechnology, Stem cells

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Telomere is a stimulating finding of science regarding aging. These telomeres which are attached to chromosome at its end, saves our genes from getting worn-out after cell-division. But after some years the telomeres finally get worn-out thus inducing aging to our body. This is the basic reason behind old age; slow but accumulative damage to our cells. In this process of aging telomeres work with an enzyme called telomerase, which assist telomeres to remain healthy and long. The health and length of Telomeres has become as fascination as science fiction

A study conducted in ‘2010 on rats, using telomerase found the aging process of rats could be reversed’.

These exciting findings regarding telomeres and telomerase gave rise to complex versatile questions. One question was that a simple instrument such as a candle, which burns an inch per hour, could be compared to our telomeres. The telomeres do they work in the same way as the candle? Can they be used to predict our aging speed? Similarly can the telomere length warn us about diseases such as heart disease, stroke or cancer? Is it possible for us to increase the length of telomeres in our body while they are constantly becoming shorter?

The study is now publicized after the research work of Elizabeth Blackburn, and the questions have become the centre of attention for ordinary people. She said that now a test regarding the length of telomere will be brought to the market. ‘Her company is already giving its services to research through this test,’ and it’s now mentioned on the company’s website that in 2011 the test will be available for public on general basis.

The process of this test includes swab of blood sample taken from the human body, then the telomeres in white blood cells will be examined. As we know that white blood cells can configure our immune system and if any change happens in its quantity it warns us of serious disease.

For further research the length of the telomeres can be compared with the length of another person of the same age. Blackburn announced that the test will cost less than $200 and you can have it at doctors’ clinics. However, at the same time she says that we are yet unsure of the benefit we will get from this test, as it’s not clear if we would be able to use it to solve any health problem.

Research on telomeres has already provided some intriguing answers. It has been found that the length of telomeres is associated with the length of our lives. ‘A research explored people in the age group of 60 years. Interestingly, those with shorter telomeres tended to die within 17 years’, while those with longer telomeres outlived their peers.

Telomeres which are shorter in length can cause very serious diseases. There is a great risk of heart disease for people with short telomeres. Similarly, the research also found that the people with short telomeres had a three time higher risk of dying from heart disease and eight times higher risk of dying from infectious diseases in comparison to those with longer telomeres.

In addition, a few types of cancers are also related to short length telomeres.

No causal relationship has yet been established through these studies. This means that it is not confirmed that shorter telomeres are really associated with the emergence of health pathologies. There is only one certain conclusion established, which is that shortened telomeres is related to uncommon aging disorders such as Dyskeratosis Congenita.

Ongoing studies are, however, providing strong evidence suggesting that telomeres are not only a factor of aging but maybe the strongest biological benchmark of aging. This is why people are starting to question whether their telomeres are long or short.

Nevertheless, if our telomeres are short, the real concern is whether something can be done to lengthen them. Research has concluded that stress, diets, lifestyle and exercise can influence the length of telomeres. ‘In a rather small study, it was found that meditation, daily exercise, yoga and health diets increased the presence of telomerase, which is an enzyme promoting the length of telomeres’.

Telomeres is something new in biological science and research are thus only in an infant phase. Most studies are suggesting that:

1. Losing weight
2. Reducing Waist Circumference
3. Eating less red meat
4. Relaxing

Are good for our health and equally the length of these so called protective ends of our chromosomes; telomeres.

This personal genome test can further help researchers to analyze the importance of telomeres in aging. It is thus being released to the market at a good time, maybe with a dozen of unanswered questions but with promising hope for additional clues on how to live a healthier life.

Source: Discover Magazine

Anti Aging, Bioscience, Health And Aging, Longevity, Stem cells

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