Super-centenarians’ (people living to 110 or beyond) are uncommon in the general population. In developed countries only one person out of every 5 million is predisposed to live to 110 years or beyond. An American research team has found evidence showing that genetics seems to be one of the main reasons for extreme longevity.

The current study was categorized as ‘a first-of-a-kind’ where the complete genome sequence of a woman and man aged past 114 years was studied. It was found that they had an equal amount of disease-related genes as the general public.

It was found that the man had 37 genetic mutations, which were related to colon cancer. According to Dr. Thomas Perls, who is the Director of the New England Centenarian Study, mentioned that the man had in his earlier life experienced obstructing colon cancer which hadn’t metastasized when it was treated with surgery. At Boston University Medical Center, Perls said that the man was in good physical and mental condition until his death.

In addition, the woman did also have a high volume of genetic variations, which were directly associated to age-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease and Alzhemier’s disease. But, it was only in her late life; around 108, that she started to develop mild cognitive impairment and congestive heart failure.

Other research teams have found similar finding; suggesting that centenarians have an equal amount of disease-related genes as the overall population. According to Perls, centenarians seem to have longevity-associated genes, which eradicate the negative effect of the disease genes. These longevity variants do either delay disease or in some cases prevent the diseases from even occurring. In most cases, the diseases tend to be delayed, and this enables these people to live almost to the human lifespan limit.

On the 3rd of January 2012, the study was published in the Journal Frontiers in Genetics. The information is also available at U.S National Institute of Health.

Sources: Family Doctor and USA Today

Anti Aging, Gerontology

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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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Currently, the segment of the population that is expanding the fastest is the aging one. It is estimated that by 2050, we will have a population of centenarians reaching 6 million, while 25 percent of the Western population will be aged above 60 years.

In the 20th century, lifespan experienced a rise by 40 years. Now researchers are delving to understand how longevity can be further extended. It is certain that longevity can be increased but most probably there will be some biological limit in expanding human lifespan. According to psychological studies, we can easily evaluate our age. Our biological age can be dictated by what researchers say ‘You’re only as old as you feel’.

Our biological structure is composed of small units known as cells. Nowadays, it is possible to extract body tissues and thereafter grow these cells in laboratories. The cells need only to be provided with specific nutrients; thereafter, the cell can expand and multiply (cell differentiation). Previously, it was believed that cells could continue this expansion process forever, if there were no signs of diseases.

Leonard Hayflick, who was a microbiologist defied and proved that the notion of immortality wasn’t possible. According to his scientific explanation, a cultured cell could divide for a definite number of times such as 40 to 60 and afterward, the cell deceased. In relation to this restriction in cell division, the biological limit of human lifespan can be extrapolated. This means that even if we stay health forever, and do never face any diseases we will eventually die one day as our cells will cease to divide.

Based on gerontologist’s projection, deaths are something that cannot be prevented at the age of 120. It should also be noted that the world’s oldest person, ‘Jeanne Calment’ lived to the age of 122 years, and died in France 1997.

Biological Limit: Telomeres

In the duplication process when one cell divides and forms two daughter cells, our genetic code (DNA) is copied into each of the daughter cells. Our DNA is a double-stranded molecule, sealed at both of its end by something known as telomeres. Telomeres are similar to the plastic cap found on shoe laces. If the plastic cap, is missing the laces will soon start to fray. However, during cell division, the telomeres slowly shorten. In this continuous process of cell division, the telomeres shorten to an extent that the cell can no longer divide. It is at that point that the so called ‘Hayflick Limit is reached’.

Nevertheless, our cells have the potentials to release an enzyme known as telomerase. This is a protein which has the ability to repair these shortened telomeres. Apparently, the enzyme is dormant in most cell types. Yet imagine the possibility of activating this enzyme. It could lead to a promising increase in cell life.

Researchers on mice have been giving outstanding results on how telomerase activation can prolong the lifespan of mice.

Resveratrol for Healthiness

In addition, another special compound, which is present in some plants, is known as resveratrol. Resveratrol has the ability to stabilize the metabolism of our cells. This substance is present in peanuts and red grapes. For instance, a typical glass of wine has roughly 1mg of resveratrol. Biologists and pharmaceutical companies are also struggling to release a resveratrol drug for human.

A Young Mind & a Long Life

There are easier solutions available than to wait for advanced technological and medical advancement in the field of gerontology. According to a Ellen Langer, a Harvard Psychologist in the 1979, who made an astounding experiment to show that lifestyle patterns does influence our biological age.

In the study, a group of men aged in their 70s as well as 80s were selected for a one ‘week of reminiscence’. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect on our body when our mind was turned back by 20 to 30 years.

The men were split into two groups. Each of the two groups spent a full week at a house situated near Boston. The control group spent one week reminiscing on the 1950s. However, the experiment group was told to act as if they were really living in the 1950s. They were given items and memories from the 50s, such as music, news and films. In addition, everything was discussed in the present tense. The aim of the practice was to bring their mind back to the years when the men were younger and vigorous.

In other words, the surrounding, prompted the men to act as if they were 20 years younger. The elders weren’t given support to carry heavy luggage neither were they given any special gadgets for aid. The experiment group had to make their own meals based on personal choices.

Physiological measurements were carried out by Langer, prior to the one-week experiment and afterward. Fascinatingly, both the group had improved significantly. The experimental group experienced the most radical enhancement. This was in terms of dexterity, cognitive abilities, memories, eyesight, hearing, freeness, speed of movement and regulated blood pressure.

Langer suggested that if the mind was associated to believe that you are younger, your body will be shaped in that form.

According to Langer’s study, the easiest way to stay healthy and young is to believe that you are young.

Source: Irish times

Anti Aging, Gerontology, Lifestyle

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Here is a short snapshot on how episode 8 (Can We Live forever?).

Over the past centuries, human life expectancy has doubled. This is a target already met, but the question is whether it is possible to overcome death ones for all. Is it really possible to rectify on-going degeneration that develops in our DNA? Or is it even possible to render our body more resilient by using better chemistry of life.

This upcoming episode provide interesting insight on how to eternity is defined in respect to human lifespan.

Video Insight: Cryogenic Preservation

Video Insight: Forever Young


Video Insight: The Omega Point

Source: Discovery (On Science)

Anti Aging, Immortality

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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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In January 2010, the Wernig group had already accomplished outstanding results as they successfully transform the adult skin cells of mice to nerve cells, using only three genes – Brn2, Asc11, and Mytl1. More commonly known as “BAM”, this group of genes was tested along with other genetic units deemed important in deriving neurons from stem cells. During the experiment, the Wernig group generated neurons by transferring BAM to virus vectors to contaminate the skin cells. The lab achievement was first of its kind and it paved the success of further research. This body remodeling technology adapted a widely used procedure called transdifferentiation that derive different types of cells from the body’s skin cells by skipping the iPSC stage and advancing directly to differentiation.

Later, the triumphant findings moved body reprogramming to a new level by experimenting on human cells instead of mice cells.

Embryonic stem cells from aborted fetus and cells from foreskins of male babies were used. The BAM genes showed positive results in the beginning. However, after the Wernig group had their outcomes scrutinized, the nerve-like cells in the culture dish were unable to send signals, which can further restrict neural function.

Another “transcription factor” known as NeuroD was then introduced to the BAM combination upon thorough consideration by Wernig’s group. Approximately, four to five weeks after contamination, the theory worked wonders, resulting in a dish full of neurons with the correct proteins, as well as the ability to perform electrical communication and chemical signaling with neighboring neurons through synapses. Human neurons could even connect to mouse neurons via synapses when placed together in the same dish.

The Wernig group’s victorious attempt in converting human cell shines light on the development of regenerative medicine and enables scientists to carry out proper research on the neurons of patients with neurological syndromes, for example, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Neuron replacement-based cell therapies that tailor to the individual needs of each patient do not seem that impossible now.

As stated early, avoiding iPSC phase yields various benefits. Well, on one hand, transcription factors used to induce iPSC have also earned a position in the expanding list of cancer-causing agents. If the genes are “switched off” before the skin cells gain complete pluripotency, tumor growth can be inhibited and prevented. On the other hand, iPSC-derived therapies require a great deal of time and a high level of labor intensity.

In early 2011, scientists at Scripps Research Institute turned the skin cells of a mouse into beating heart cells by skipping the iPSC phase. Consequently, the time needed was reduced from a few weeks to a few days. Adding another point to the cons of iPSC-based treatments, recent study showed failure in inducing mice with stem cells generated from skin cells of a mouse with similar genetic identity – the mice rejected the pluripotent stem cells. The rejection is believed to have triggered due to transcription factors. Disappointed by the latest findings, experts were unable to solve the puzzle regarding the future and workability of iPSC-related treatments that cater to each patient’s specific needs.

Comparing both Wernig’s studies, human cells are relatively more complex than those of a mouse. This may foretell a bumpy ride ahead for the advancement of this technology. As mentioned earlier, a human skin cell could only turn into a nerve cell with the presence of a fourth gene. Human’s cell conversion efficiency rate is also rather low and just 2 to 4 percent of the skin cells were successfully converted into neurons. This was only 8 percent of the effectiveness they had gotten when experimenting on a mouse. To worsen the situation, nearly all embryonic human nerve cells depended on one neurotransmitter glutamate for signal transmitting. More than a hundred types of neurotransmitters are present in just the brain. These transmitters intervene with immeasurable subtle details that allow the neurons to function accordingly. Until the scientists are able to figure a new technique to regenerate neurons for replacement purposes, they will have to face critical restrictions when conducting research on various diseases, such as the Parkinson’s disease that is caused by the defect of a neurotransmitter named dopamine. By taking note of all the difficulties faced, Wernig and his group are attempting to enhance their theory as an effort to generate neurons in greater numbers and with more diversity.

In science, we tend to misjudge the effects of short term and long term advancements. It is a broadly applied principle in the laboratory that you should always triple the estimated time needed to complete an assignment, but stem cell experts are seemingly ignorant towards the “golden” rule – dashing to the finishing line of each scientific progress at full speed. The proposal of iPSC was introduced not long ago. Five years after the day scientists effectively induced the first adult cells of mice to pluripotent stem cells, transdifferentiation is developed and has since overshadowed the achievements of its predecessor. In the previous year, transdifferentiation was successfully applied to turn skin cells into heart, blood and liver cells for the very first time. So, what will be the next big breakthrough? Now, I am sure it will be a splendid surprise.

Source: Singularity Hub

Anti Aging, Bioscience

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How is it possible for us not to notice the importance of the human body’s biggest organ? Despite its significance, the skin is not invincible. Damaged skin, particularly burn wounds that mostly involve layers of skin, will eventually expose you to potential disease and illness. Fortunately, Avita Medical is introducing a modern skin injuries treatment technology that guarantees positive results.

What’s more? This new product, which is named ReCell, is a spray! Doctors can now heal wounds and burns by spraying healthy tissue samples on the injuries.

Well, let’s clear the mystery of how these miraculous spray-on-skin functions. Burn patients or others with different dermatological needs will be treated by introducing minimal amount of unharmed skin (taken by doctors from unaffected areas) to the injuries. ReCell is more than just a spray-on-skin; it contains all necessary tools for cell harvesting and cell culture. Cell harvesting is a process vital in retrieving every cell type involved in burn and wound healing, including structural cells (fibroblasts), cells essential in skin damage repair (keratinocytes) and pigment cells (melanocytes). Besides being an edgy spray that heals, ReCell is also a promising scar-free wound treatment technology. Scars are considerably destructive, especially to a person’s outlook and confidence.

Dr. Fiona Wood, an Australian plastic surgeon that gains global recognition, initiated the theory behind ReCell in the beginning of the 1990s. Since then, the concept is consistently developed. Conventional burn healing methods normally involve skin grafting. Through this procedure, a patient will have to undergo an operation of which undamaged skin is surgically removed to be transplanted.

Cultured epithelial autograft (CEA) is yet another widespread treatment for severe skin injuries that involves healthy skin harvesting and lab work that grows the skin into “sheets” prior to its usage. It is true that both treatments are worthy life savers, but they still bear a number of problems that Avita Medical intends to tackle with ReCell.

The spray-on-skin’s exceptional wound healing speed is one of its prime benefits. As proven by researchers, wounds that require more time to recover are exposed to higher risk of disfigurement and other problems. Unlike CEA which takes a few weeks to grow ample cells for wound treatment, ReCell only needs one week or less, thus lowering the danger of massive skin deformities from about 75 percent to 4 percent. It is indeed an encouraging improvement. However, the concept of fast skin damage repair has already been introduced by technologies such as skin printers and wound powders of which both similarly promote the idea of defect organ renewal.

ReCell does share the same initiative, but uses dissimilar techniques to further enhance the theory. ReCell rids the patients of the inconvenience that skin printer users have to face – retrieving stem cells from donors – by using the patients’ healthy cells. In the case of ACell’s wound powder, wound epithelialization is promoted by speeding the patient’s own cell regeneration ability. ReCell, however, places the cells directly on an injury. It may seem that each technology boasts different advantages, and each has managed to live up to their advertised values, but further research should be conducted to match the types of injuries with their most suited treatments.

With ReCell, patients no longer need to fear the complications of surgical operations. Surgical anesthetic drugs and surgery itself have been greatly developed as compared to the olden days when anesthesia-related deaths are dreadfully common. Regardless of their improvements, certain reactions to anesthetics can still be fatal. Not to forget, patients are also at risk of several side effects. Evidently, anesthesia should be avoided when a less health-threatening substitutes are accessible. It is possible as well for ReCell to enhance existing therapies in healing children’s burns and other skin defects.

Present technology such as skin grafting or CEA does not ensure proper skin growth as the child ages. Sometimes, there is a high risk that the skin may not even grow. As a result, the child will be operated constantly until the skin matures. Such continual torture can now be avoided by using ReCell as it promotes normal skin stretching and growth.

After knowing all the advantages ReCell guarantees and its importance in the future development of wound healing treatments, you would most probably vote “yes” for the technology to be introduced immediately in the US. Shockingly, it is still awaiting approval from the food and drug administration (FDA).

A statement at Avita Medical websites states “ReCell is under clinical investigation as an investigational device and is not approved for marketing in the USA.”

The reason for the slow response of FDA is yet to be known seeing that ReCell’s success rate is very high in numerous countries, such as Australia, Germany, France, Canada and the UK. The convincing results should prove to the FDA that ReCell is a promising technology in dermatology. However, it is quite common for the FDA to take a much longer time in considering the approval of stem cell treatments and at times, the decision is rather unreasonable. Though, we should respect the laws restricting the FDA as it must be admitted that the regulations were passed by the Congress. Optimistically, the FDA will approve the spray-on-skin soon to provide an alternative to surgery.

It is still unknown how far will this amazing advancement go, and it is definitely a technological progress worth witnessing. Probably, internal organs can be treated and renewed without the presence of a donor by adapting the same theory. As the wound healing technology improves with time, treatments with better healing speed and effectiveness could become available.

Source: Singularity Hub, New South Wales Dep. Of Health, and Avita medical

Anti Aging, Bioscience, Health And Aging, Lifestyle

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At the exhibition, a future embryo was also displayed, beside there were also many robots. A video has been attached to below to have the expression of how people are feeling about human enhancement. The idea is so fascinating said a professor at the gallery. And he also said that it is imagined that certain body organism will be produced in future species, which will speak, like it would say that I am bored, etc. The professor also showed an extra ear which he incorporated in his arm for enhancement.

All these ideas of future human species are displayed at the gallery by various providers. It raises questions as, what would be our behavior of living with robots? And how would we like to be enhanced to be eternal?

Science Gallery: Human Enhancement

Source: Science Gallery

Bioscience, Immortality, Nanotechnology

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This incident in fact reveals the human enhancement. Similarly there is another case of an Australian artist called Sterlac, who put an ear in his forearm. He made this his 3rd ear, in the lab.

He also wanted to put Bluetooth in his ear, so that people could hear his talk on internet; worldwide. But his wish could not be fulfilled due to infections.

Another artist, Steve Haworth has developed small magnets which he sells for a very small fee. The magnet is then implanted into your finger tips. These magnets will enable one to sense magnetic fields in the surrounding.

Similarly, Prof Kevin of cybernetics inserted a RIFD chip on his arm for opening and closing the door. This became a very controversial statement when he said that this chip should be used on dogs and cats for tracking purpose of crime, especially in murders. Such stories actually give interesting material to the media. It does also fascinate people, but it disturbs the human boundaries.

It is in human nature to keep on increasing its power through technology thus doing various experiments. Many such examples of human sense extension can be seen as imaging through the functional magnetic resonance and microscopes of atomic forces. Humans are always attracted to mysterious and weird things. As cosmetic surgery and Viagra is another such an example, perimeters raise many questions as can we be superpowers after such technology, or can we see our future by downloading our brain into a computer. This technology is good only for disabled as like heart, liver or hair implants.

There are many examples of athletes who miss some competition due to some kind of disability but what if the athlete has prosthetics enhancement. You can look at the example of the model Aimee Mullins, also an athlete with prosthetic legs. She has 12 sets for different lets for varied occasions. Such technology is equally very important for the soldiers who are permanently inured during wars.

There is a book on longevity never let me go, by Kazu Ishiguro. The story was recently issued as a movie. In this book society is shown in modern aspect where cloning is done to extend life by replacing organs. This movie is an example of human enhancement.

Many new technologies of reproduction and data regarding genes are emerging. A famous company called 23andMe, are doing reconfiguration of family and courtships concept. A prize is also provided by the foundation Methuselah, named as a new organ prize. They have secured $10 million for a new organ transplant until 2020. The basic purpose of this award is to develop new techniques for replacing organs as liver, heart, lung, pancreas and kidneys.

Longevity has become a great subject these days. New medical technology has evolved, and people are becoming more aware of natural diet. Some researchers such as Juan Enriquez of biotechnology are in favor of technologies of stem cells.

Researchers say that longevity through medicine can create a dozen of problems rangin from social, economic, demographic to emotional.

Some other research work says that the future human and his functions are dependent on ecosystem not us. A human body is a compound of medicine, prosthetics and promises, just like Alice in Wonderland. Actually human boundaries are body boundaries. The social and ethical boundaries of our species are tested by the researchers.

A question that emerges is whether we should go for enhancement or not. The easiest way might be to modify ourselves. Is longevity leaving a good effect on the planet? These are only a few reflections that people have to decide before opting for the best means to enhance human skills and extend human lifespan.

Source: Guardian.co

Anti Aging, Anti Aging Theories, Immortality, Lifestyle

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