Why do we die?

Question

If you can provide evidence of what you come up with if possible. eg magzine articles , encarta

Answer 1

We live off oxygen in our atmosphere, but oxygen is a seriously damaging element. We die of old age because our bodies are fighting the 'ageing' effect of oxidation all the time, and eventually they lose. But a great many organisms die of reasons other than old age. There are many other causes of death: disease, poisoning, fighting, natural disasters, to name but a few.

Evolutionarily, it makes sense not to live for ever because the world would soon 'fill up', and we would theoretically end up competing with our own relatives for resources (read The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins).

As far as magazine articles for supporting evidence as concerned, I don't read magazines about death, so I'm afraid I can't help there!

Answer 2

Now, there's one for philosophers to knaw on forEVER. The scientists will say that we die because we can't live forever, from a biological standpoints, i.e. cells must/will stop growing and maturing and disease states will take over.

Others will give reasons from "that's the natural order of things," "we can't live forever" and any number of discussion topics that make for great dinner or cocktail party.

But to bottom line it, WE ALL DIE AND JOIN those who came/and went before us. At least, if you believe in an 'afterlife.' Which I do, as I prefer to think that my end will be more than just pushing up daisies.

That I'll finally meet those I've know and those I've NEVER known.

Can ANYONE really come up with evidence?

Answer 3

"Why do we die?" Up until the last 50 years, there was no choice in the matter. Life on earth lives and dies according to a natural cycle. However, just in the last couple of decades, much has been learned about the biology of aging and death. While death itself cannot be overcome, thinks to developments in science and technology, there are mechanisms in place that will permit us to significantly extend useful human life; thus, postponing the finality of death for a long while. Nevertheless, because people fear the unknown, they resist the necessary research to extend human life span. There exists at least two or three theories that may become possible models for extending the human life span. Fortunately, there are scientists working on and testing these concepts. I am of the opinion that, when humanity lets go of and gets past its religion and old traditions, we will then be ready to master our biology and perhaps, the universe.

Answer 4

We die because there has never been a genetic mutation which allows immortality.
Also, may be no advantage to living forever. Once our genetic material has been passed on to several offspring, and they have survived to adulthood, then there is no advantage gained by living any longer. Genes which are more successful in producing offspring will increase in number, immortality would not guarantee that.

Also, from a biological point of view, cells have a pre-programmed life/death cycle, called apoptosis. They are continually being formed from stem cells and then die. Eventually they wear out, and run out of stem cells.

Answer 5

I guess we die because everything has to have an end...if we wouldn't be aware of death then out lives would get boring. Life being short is a beautiful thing because knowing that it can be over any moment makes us live it the best way we can.

Answer 6

Because death is part of the biological evolution.
I even would dare to say, that birth and death are part of life.....however it would be absurd, because when death comes, that supposes the inmediate absence of life...
Everyday we spend on the planet, counts one day less towards death, that if not by accident, comes to us as a naturalphenomenon.....things must have a limit....who wants to be ethernal....(I would be scared if I had to live eternally)....
Enthalpia after regulated enthropia...its expectable-----
Peace and chemical equilibrium at last....!!!!

Answer 7

Try wikipedia, we cannot live forever, and why would you want too with the human body continually deteriorating. This is just a stopover to the next place.

Answer 8

We die, because time can not support our bodies. All things wear out or u know, break. Also, this would have to include humans. We die, because our bodies can not support all of our organs and stuff, other times, people die because of too much information in their mental capacity, like depression, people's heart will fail on depression.

Answer 9

if you live forever, then you wont be the only one, and if all people lived for ever,, birth rate will increase and there will be no control on the numbers of humans, and if there is no control on the numbers of humans then we will be more overcrouded than we already are. also if you are able to kill plant and animals in order live, whey shouldnt you die too?

Answer 10

when adam sinned and ate the fruit of the tree of knowlege of good and evil he died-spiritually and he began to die physically; that was the punishment that God instated

because sin entered the world...we all die physically, we can only live through Jesus Christ- we can live forever spiritually