why? Does our body work like a clock, who's battery eventually just wears down?
It would seem to me that based on the biology of the body that it should last forever.
2006-12-16 14:02:07 · 13 answers · asked by enjoying life 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Two popular theories are free radicals and telemers. As the body/cells consume fuel and produce energy and waste, one of the byproducts is called free-radicals. The accumulation of free radicals has damaging effects on cells. Foods high in anti-oxidants are believed to help remove/reduce the accumulation of free-radicals.
At the ends of the strands of DNA is a substance called telemer that is believed to "bind" the ends together similar to the plastic on the ends of shoelaces keeps them from unraveling. As cells divide, the telemers grow shorter. Eventually, this process allows the DNA to unravel, like an old shoelace.
2006-12-16 14:27:36 · answer #1 · answered by kart_125cc 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Parts of the body wear out. Over time, the cells lose thier ability to reproduce well and don't recover from insult and injury. Eventually the body breaks down. Even the most well made car won't last forever.
2006-12-16 14:04:05 · answer #2 · answered by rita_alabama 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You forget that a body is just a vehicle that your genes run around in. They use you, the phenotype, to replicate copies of themselves and get that information into the next generation. Cold comfort for YOU, but it is not all about you. Live in the moment, with acceptance of natures beautiful plan. This is the ultimate cause of death, but, proximately, people are working to extend body life. How much good that will do YOU, remains to be seen.
2006-12-16 16:16:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the biology of the body is set to "wear out" like an old car. We might be able to recreate these worn out parts... but that is a long way off.
We found out that even Dolly, the cloned sheep had a short life expectancy, because the DNA was "old". More specifically the telomeres "wore out".
There is a lot to learn, but theoretically it is possible to extend the lifespan indefinitely.
2006-12-16 14:52:19 · answer #4 · answered by JohnBoy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's because as far as evolution is concerned there is no reason for you to be alive after you have had and raised offspring, there's no selective benefit from genes that make people live longer because humans have already passed on their genes.
Ex. a person who lives to be 50 and has had 4 kids is just as "fit" as someone who lives to be 100 and has had 4 kids, there's no benefit as far as natural selection is concerned that would cause the longevity genes to become predominant.
2006-12-16 16:05:35 · answer #5 · answered by Nick F 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is no biological reason for our bodies to fail and die . We are so wonderfully designed and created to carry on forever. However, we do grow old an ddie. This has been a mystery to man for thousands of years. But we know , from the Bible, why we die. When Adam and Eve sinned and ate fruit of the tree of the of the knowledge of good and bad, then they lost their physical perfection and became imperfect, thus prone to death and sickness. Stinks, huh? But God himself had told that first couple their limits- that they could eat from every tree of the garden , every single tree but THAT one and when they ate of that tree, they gained knowledge, but also with that came death.
SO, no matter that our bodies our wonderously made and almost perfect, due to the mistake of our first parents, there is now a 'timer' in all of us that goes off at a certain time and says ' you're done'.
2006-12-16 14:13:50 · answer #6 · answered by AGNES 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
If the body didn't die, then life on Earth would be miserable. We would become even more overcrowded, the environment would become even more filthy than it is, and we would all be really sick for our entire lives.
2006-12-16 14:04:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the body decomposes,it doesn't last forever, however if you put it in cold storage it may last forever.
2006-12-16 14:11:31 · answer #8 · answered by Ketty87 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that your expectations are to high nothing lasts forever except our spirit.I believe it's called death when the body dies but our spirit or soul lives forever.
2006-12-16 14:06:18 · answer #9 · answered by Audrey : 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I was always told that your heart was made to beat so many beats and that any thing that altered your heart rate affeted your life span, such as excercise slows your resting heart rate and lengthens your life, smoking speeds it up and shortens your life span.
2006-12-16 14:04:26 · answer #10 · answered by Heather 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋