If mapping the human genome is completed, will scientists be able to make strides in longevity research?

Question

I've read abou thte possiblity of lifespans being greatly increased.

Answer 1

i would be happy to just have a healthier life. i hope to see major improvements in our ability to cure diseases and disabilities in my lifetime.

if we could accomplish that it should extend our lives, or at least make the time we have better for everyone.

Answer 2

Indeed the lifespan, will be increased, by regulating or eliminating, some parts of the genoma, that actually carry the info for colon cancer, leukemias, rheumatoid arthitis, cardiac deformities, and many other of the so called "degenerative diseases".....Not only by modification of a single protein, or sets of proteins, as it happens in some crustacea, or molluscs, etc...those are primitive forms of life that can not be compared ion any sense to the complexity of the human genoma, and physical properties of the human body...
The lifespan can be increased,.... however my guess, is that we DO have a limit in our lives, because the genes, carry in themselves, the encrypted information about tye timing of cell death (apoptosis), that will determine at the end, how long we can live (chronologically), and we cant escape from that...
Yes, cell death is already painfully encoded in our own genoma....
What can be achieved, is a more lenghty life without the very many ailments that are actually afflicting mankind (quality more that quantity)......hardly can be called strides,,,,if anything, timid and cautious steps....towards longevity...

Answer 3

Of course. I silenced a gene in Caenorabditis elegans (nematode used in research) that was suspected to have an effect on aging by triggering a specific protein called Cyclophilin D to be produced, which is known to increase lifespan. If the worms lived as long without the gene (gene silenced) as they did with the gene...then we knew that the gene was not involved in increasing the worm's lifespan because it would've stopped cyclophilin D production if it was the gene tht triggered the production of the protein and the worms would not have lived as long. Anyhow the more genes are mapped...the more genes we can test to see which proteins they produce that help increase longevity in humans as well. It's all a matter of process of elimination to see what genes do what.

Answer 4

Probably.

But consider this:

In 1900 the average life span for an American was 45 years.
Today it is nearly 80. This near doubling is due to a myriad of reasons. However the most important of these is NOT necessarily associated with advances in medicine.

Improvements in nutrition, sanitation and the availability of clean water have been larger contributors to longevity.

The most important medical contributors too longevity so far have been better dental care, antibiotics and immunizations

Answer 5

It will help some, but there is a limit of about 130 years which will be very difficult to extend. Check out "telomerase" to see why.

Answer 6

living for a very long period of time would be boring.....