Ted Byers wrote:

Interesting. I wonder if they could have rejuvenated the cell Dolly was
made from, before it began to divide, by turning back on. If so, would it
turn itself off again at the right time, or would an intervention be
required to turn it off later? Or is an exprimental manipulation to
lengthen the telomeres without turning on the gene (perhaps be extracting
the genetic material, manipulating it and then putting it back)?



I'd wager that somebody is working on something similar. I don't
really know what is going on in the cloning world. I do know it isn't
quite as simple as just resetting telomere length. DNA damage and
(perhaps) the accumulation of damage in long lived proteins play a role
as well. Interestingly, this doesn't really apply to orchids, which
are effectively immortal. Or if it does, the meristematic region of an
orchid would be the equivalent of an eternally young tissue. It is
interesting to consider what mechanism could allow a plant to continue
to grow forever, but limits the age of animals.

Nope! But then, those who fear death would likely want it examined in
animals to see if the problems associated with turning telomerase on can be
avoided, in an effort to prolong life. Through my own chronic illness (no
safe, effective treatment and uncontrollable pain: less than a 50% chance of
living to age 65 according to the latest stats I've seen), I have learned
not only not to fear death but to see it as a welcome friend. What good is
a prolonged life if you don't have your health?


Indeed, and I wish you well with your illness. The worst day above
the ground is better than the best below it... I'm reasonably confident
there will be ways to prolong quality life in the very near future.
There already have been substantial advances in lifespan and quality of
life, just in the last 50 years or so. By quality I mean active and
healthy. So if people could be as active at 80 as they are at 60, that
would be a substantial improvement, even if total lifespan didn't
increase. Prolonging life is no good, if that extra time is spent in
hospital. This will end up really changing our social structure, of
course, and I don't know if we are ready for it yet. We'll probably all
need to work until 80 anyway, just to pay off the U.S. deficit.

--
Rob's Rules: http://www.msu.edu/~halgren
1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a. See rule 1
3) When one has insufficient credit to purchase
more orchids, obtain more credit