Is inmortality within our reach?

Question

Advances in biotechnology, nanotechnology, cryonics, computer science have the capacity to make us inmortal. How realistic is this proposition?. And what could be it's implications?.

Answer 1

I've heard that the human body is designed to last a maximum of 115 years. After that most of your major organs are just too worn out to go on. Another source says that your heart is good for 3 billion beats. Organ replacement from, say, cloned sources raise all kinds of ethical and moral dilemmas. As it is now, our aging population is putting a pretty hefty strain on resources like old age pensions. Consider that back in medieval times the average life span was about thirty years. Now imagine people living to be 500 years old. It's best right now to simply accept it when the grim reaper taps you on the shoulder.

Answer 2

I read an article once that said we could live to 500-600 yrs if we could just get our body temperture down to 85 deg (from 98.6 deg). It was thought this would slow down the rate at which our cells divide. But like a friend of mine said, "who wants to be around that long shivering all the time?"

I guess the cells are good for about 50 divisions before they lose their ability to do their specific tasks. Lowering the temp slows this down and also by lowering the nutrition to the cell. I think in china they sometimes eat very little and it does seem to extend their longevity. But I don't know how much energy (mental and physical) you have if you only eat 500 calories a day....perhaps in heaven they know

The big question would be what to do? I live in a 55+ rv park and there are a lot of bored folks here. Some would like to work but have medical problems.

Answer 3

It will be technically possible, but I doubt that it will be publicly announced. Mainly because then it will cause large class discrepancies that people will be very vociferous against. These treatments would cost a lot of money, and the people that couldn't afford it would complain and make trouble. Not to mention that the inheritees of the big money wouldn't want the holders to live longer.
That also brings up retirement. If people could then live to 500 years, shouldn't retirement be around 400? The social changes required could happen, but once again, poor people would retire sooner, and those able to keep living longer would be making even more money.

Answer 4

I think you mean immortality and though we can use things like those you mentioned to extend life, we will never become immortal. The "fountain of youth" is a nice idea, but death is a part of life and it always will be. Besides, if we didn't die and kept having children we would overpopulate the planet really fast (especially considering that some people believe the planet is overpopulated already).

Answer 5

We're not too far from the possibility.
It's more complicated than it at first appears, but there is probably a way.
As to the implications:
There are already too amany of us for the limited and decreasing resources we have.
The picture is grim.

Answer 6

It is merely a matter of speculation, since nobody can prove it either way.

I believe that within the next 100 years, we will have the technology to halt cellular suicide (aging), and to fully repair any bodily tissue, or alternatively to create synthetic bodies.

Answer 7

No Chance!
We are not able to find medicines for simple diseases like AIDS and Cancer (advanced stage) and many other diseases and i think Immortality is a bit too far to think of at present.

Answer 8

Religion would hate it and Insurance Companies would love it.

Answer 9

Always been here. Come to God with thanksgiving and praise!
Otherwise, it ain't happening. Everybody dies.