The human genome has been mapped I think completely,, so I would imagine this would be the very first thing they would look for. And yes, I'm aware that it would be extremely difficult to isolate, but im sure they have plenty of cray supercomputers at their disposal. I'm thinking it wont be a single gene, maybe a series.
2007-02-22 21:31:29 · 8 answers · asked by jkp 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Yes, you are right. Genetic expression is pretty complicated. Certain genes on a DNA may directly control a particular biochemical process. However, in eukaryotes where things become more complicated, the genes interact among each other to specify for a certain activity. Supercomputers cannot algorithmically identify the genes as biological interactions of the genes are far too complicated. Imagine a group of children being told to build a single model of a house by collaboration. There are thousands of ways the model could be built. Is it possible to recognise which wall is placed by which kid or which cupboard is assembled by which kid? Obviously, it is Herculean. Analgous to cell aging. Anyway, progresses have been made since scientists identify that one of the factors of cell aging is the shortening of telomere caps. Telomere caps are 'caps' which are situated at the terminals of a DNA. It's coded by bases but the bases don't code for any protein. In other words, telomeres are actually meaningless bases in a DNA strand. However, when DNA replicates, the ends are not replicated due to the mechanism of replication. So, after each round of replication, the ends are trimmed. If telomeres are present, the trimming will be on them since they are on the ends of DNAs. However, if the cap is worn, then the meaningful bases will be trimmed, renderring the DNA useless. This is believed to be the reason of cell aging. In protists, there are enzymes of telomerase which help to extend the telomeres, thus prolonging the cell's lifespan. Telomerase also exist in the germinal epithelial cells within our reproductive systems but do not exist in normal somatic cells. If telomerase exists in normal cells, the cell will not cease its growth and thus, growing uncontrollably. This spells for cancer or tumours.
2007-02-22 23:59:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think there is a gene or genes that are responsible for aging. There appear to be genes that stop some people aging as quickly as others but those genes probably just boost the body's ability to resist premature aging and not have any effect on normal aging processes.
You may have heard about cloned animals like sheep aging more quickly than natural animals. That's because they are created from cells which have themselves aged. The implication is that cells have a "ticking clock" that counts down towards ultimate death and can't be reversed, yet if ever. The body can resist environmental factors like free radical attacks but the cell may have a limited maximum lifespan anyway that has more to do with physical thermodynamic considerations (entropy-tending towards disorder) than genetics.
However if we start to morph human bodies into cyborgs then we can get around the aging process altogether. Maybe in 200 years or so we'll have the possibility of being imortal but we will no longer be natural human beings then.
2007-02-22 22:01:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
IN the study of human aging
There are many complex genetic, cellular and extracellular issues that are not well understood and currently scientists have no solutions for at this time:
Seven deadly sins of Aging in Humans:
1. Cell loss, cell atrophy
2. Nuclear [epi]mutations (only cancer matters) WILT (Whole-body Interdiction of Lengthening of Telomeres)
3. Mutant mitochondria Allotopic expression of 13 proteins
4. Death-resistant cells -Cell ablation, reprogramming
5. Extracellular crosslinks -AGE-breaking molecules/enzymes
6. Extracellular junk -Phagocytosis; beta-breakers
7. Intracellular junk -Transgenic microbial hydrolases
2007-02-23 01:15:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is true that the genome is mapped completely, but it is not correlated to each and every function or process in human life. It should be sooner or later here.
2007-02-22 21:57:17 · answer #4 · answered by Tiger Tracks 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's actuallly likely genes have didly to do with aging. Most of the effects of aging you and I might think of are the result of the processes the body has-including cellular replication-just wearing down over time.
2007-02-23 00:57:57 · answer #5 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
while the genome is coded, the function of all the proteins that it makes are not, these pathways can be infinitely complex
aging might actually not even have a gene associated with it, it might actually be a side effect of reminents of free radical reactions within your body
hope this helps
2007-02-22 23:51:07 · answer #6 · answered by Sir Smith 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well when it comes to aging hm
here`s the thing every time DNA duplicates it loses a bit in the end (telomere)
the end has a bunch of bases that are ment to be lost so no problem but once you spend all then DNA starts loosing important information and the cell can`t survive so the cell dies
and that is aging
2007-02-22 22:22:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Some things are better off not known. If they find it, it will be a disaster. dont u think?
2007-02-23 01:12:53 · answer #8 · answered by Tommy 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋