I read about the possibility on LiveScience.com. Is it possible for this to happen within the next one hundred years? I understand there is always risks that don't involve genetics, like dying i car wrecks or gun shots, but I mean strictly through our DNA; can we be engineered to never age, to never disease?
2006-06-13 12:38:52 · 14 answers · asked by Healthy Almonds 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The current understanding of the biology of aging and disease is still quite limited, to the point that we probably won't see any major breakthroughs in the next century. There have been some studies in model organisms (such as the nematode and the fruit fly) that suggest that there are genes that regulate aging. However, this is not well understood in these organisms, and very poorly understood in humans. There are human cell lines (cells that grow in growth medium) that are "immortalized," that is, they continue dividing apparently forever, but these are a far cry from an organism put together like you or I. These cells often come from cancerous tumors and have extremely disrupted genotypes, such that basically all they can do is grow and divide.
Not only do we understand little about the aging process itself, but any hopes of human genetic engineering depend on the ability to change a person's genetic complement. This, of course, is remarkably difficult in adults, who have countless cells that would have to be changed. Some "gene therapy" techniques have been tried in humans, including viral vector-based gene delivery systems. These show some promise, but there haven't been any major breakthroughs. An alternative is to try to engineer an organism from the very beginning; that is, to manipulate a zygote. However, this is widely considered to be unethical, at least in the case of humans.
My opinion is that through genetic technology, we will make better and more effective cures and preventative therapies, which will have the potential of increasing the length and quality of our life. Overcoming death is a completely different story (and a very interesting question for philosophy and religion!).
2006-06-13 14:00:03 · answer #1 · answered by Matt C 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Science and 'spirituality' are often at loggerheads whenever there's a mention of 'immortality'. Ensuring that biological cells remain functioning is one thing -- but all too often we have seen that a body in stasis, or in a coma, does not necessarily guarantee consciousness.
Gradually science is beginning to consider the possibility that something survives death. Also, I understand there is an underlying belief that the DNA contains 10 dormant strands. It is possible that a body can be engineered to reverse or discard all aging characteristics if these strands are reactivated... but I'm not sure that will cater completely to immortality. Perhaps this is more of a philosophical question than it is a purely scientific one.
2006-06-13 12:44:09 · answer #2 · answered by Guardian 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually you become immortal when you reach to top level of points on Yahoo Answers. Right? Even if we live forever here, where do you think this universe came from. Where do you think your mind came from? If you are a part of the universe and you have a mind then don't you think that wherever the universe came from has mind? Or mabey this is all a random event and we can control everything through manipulation of physical matter. We would not be the first to try this, guess where that road goes... no, really...
2006-06-13 12:46:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is Immortality Possible
2016-11-08 06:21:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible that the children of today will have immortality. We still do not fully understand why we die, but it has something to do with the structures at the end of genes called "telomeres." When the cell divides, it loses one or more telomeres, so that at some point the cell stops reproducing and dies (apoptosis).
Some scientists have been able to add telomeres to genes, and extended the life of the cell, or its reproductive life at least.
So people may one day be able to live forever, if they are not killed off by conservative Christians.
2006-06-13 12:50:03 · answer #5 · answered by thylawyer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Almost defenitely the limit to our scientific prowess as humans is only limited by our desire to find out "stuff". Basically if we lived safe normal lives yes we could possibly live for a lot longer then a mere 120 years that has been achieved. But to be like Wolverine or Highlander and heal from wounds or be immune.
Uh not yet, but hey with nanotechnology, what the hell. why not
2006-06-13 12:42:08 · answer #6 · answered by futurehero5200 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everything made of matter has a "molecular or cellular life-span" and undergoes deterioration in this physical cosmos, whether it is alive or not. Immortality is a feature of anti-matter aka SPIRIT-SOUL
Vedic shastras are filled with lots of info about how humans of other eras lived MUCH longer than what we see now with such SHORT life spans. In fact the Bible even brings this up too. Even with the 1000s of years humans could live in prior errors, it still required death of the body-vehicle.
2006-06-13 12:44:31 · answer #7 · answered by gopigirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no one can ever be immortal. but, yes we could be genetically engineered to live longer, they have even gotten rats to live 20% longer and a certain type of worm to live three times longer by genetically engineering them.
2006-06-13 16:18:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Definitley not, though they could get close.
The only one Who can make humans Immortal would be God Almighty: If he can bring someone to heaven while still inside there body, he can surley make you immortal.
2006-06-13 12:43:20 · answer #9 · answered by megnalon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting! Never really gave this much thought
2016-08-07 23:52:45 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋