Can Humans Live Forever?

Can Humans Live Forever?Human beings do not live forever because the human body cannot maintain itself indefinitely. We either grow old or we get diseased.

Ageing is currently an inevitable consequence of living and a lot of research has been done into prolonging youth or even stopping ageing completely.

Diseases interfere with the body’s major functions and may lead to death.

We focus on some of the problems associated with ageing and diseases from the point of view of what is happening at the cell level and try to address what has been done to help cells function correctly.

Can Humans Live Forever?Human beings do not live forever because the human body cannot maintain itself indefinitely. We either grow old or we get diseased.

Ageing is currently an inevitable consequence of living and a lot of research has been done into prolonging youth or even stopping ageing completely.

Diseases interfere with the body’s major functions and may lead to death.

We focus on some of the problems associated with ageing and diseases from the point of view of what is happening at the cell level and try to address what has been done to help cells function correctly.

The PessimistHuman cells do not have the ability to divide indefinitely due to shortening telomeres.

Sometimes the cells and organs in the body fail.

There may be defects on a genetic level.

The PessimistHuman cells do not have the ability to divide indefinitely due to shortening telomeres.

Sometimes the cells and organs in the body fail.

There may be defects on a genetic level.

The OptimistOur knowledge of telomeres and telomerase allows us to manipulate them.

Stems cells could be made to differentiate into any type of cell in the body as replacements.

Gene Therapy allows intervention at the genetic level.

The OptimistOur knowledge of telomeres and telomerase allows us to manipulate them.

Stems cells could be made to differentiate into any type of cell in the body as replacements.

Gene Therapy allows intervention at the genetic level.

Telomeres

Limit on cell division

For the human body to maintain its functionality, cells must continually divide.

Healthy cells can only divide around 100 times and this is a serious limitation if you want to live forever.

As each cell divides, the length of the telomere sequence decreases.

Keep the telomere length constant and the cell can undergo an incredible number of extra divisions.

Limit on cell division

For the human body to maintain its functionality, cells must continually divide.

Healthy cells can only divide around 100 times and this is a serious limitation if you want to live forever.

As each cell divides, the length of the telomere sequence decreases.

Keep the telomere length constant and the cell can undergo an incredible number of extra divisions.

Telomeres are the ends of the chromosome.

Telomeres are the ends of the chromosome.

This is the part of the DNA the polymerase can now replicate.

This is the part of the DNA the polymerase can now replicate.

Telomere is extended by telomerase.

Telomere is extended by telomerase.

The chromosome shortens with each division because the last RNA primer of the lagging strand cannot be replaced.

The chromosome shortens with each division because the last RNA primer of the lagging strand cannot be replaced.

InterventionIf we can intervene and correct errors in our genes then it becomes possible to eradicate diseases and defects.

Genes encode instructions that are transcribed into RNA and finally translated into proteins to carry out some function. If the gene is damaged it may cause the wrong protein to be formed so the cell does not function properly.

InterventionIf we can intervene and correct errors in our genes then it becomes possible to eradicate diseases and defects.

Genes encode instructions that are transcribed into RNA and finally translated into proteins to carry out some function. If the gene is damaged it may cause the wrong protein to be formed so the cell does not function properly.

So how does it work?We can insert correct genes to replace faulty ones. A carrier molecule called a vector is used to deliver the gene. Normally this is in the form of a virus which has been modified to insert specific genes into its host’s DNA.

We can selectively switch certain genes on or off to regulate the function of the cell if it is not possible to correct functionality.

It is also possible to introduce DNA directly into the cell but this is less effective and requires a lot of DNA. There are a only a few cell types which respond properly to this method.

So how does it work?We can insert correct genes to replace faulty ones. A carrier molecule called a vector is used to deliver the gene. Normally this is in the form of a virus which has been modified to insert specific genes into its host’s DNA.

We can selectively switch certain genes on or off to regulate the function of the cell if it is not possible to correct functionality.

It is also possible to introduce DNA directly into the cell but this is less effective and requires a lot of DNA. There are a only a few cell types which respond properly to this method.

Introduction

Gene Therapy

Obstacles

At present, human beings are a long way from immortality but we are slowly removing the obstacles that prevent us from living forever.

The techniques outlined are just a few of the many efforts that will contribute to increasing human life expectancy.

Conclusion

Stem Cells

When things go wrongIt is unavoidable that some cells of the human body will become dysfunctional through disease or through faults in cell division.

Stem cells are cells which can be converted into any type of cell. On division they can either become stem cells again or develop into cells with specialized functions, such as muscle cell, red blood cell, or a nerve cell.

There are two types: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Work is being done to use stem cells to replace dysfunctional cells and organs. This suggests the potential to replace parts of the body as they wear out.

When things go wrongIt is unavoidable that some cells of the human body will become dysfunctional through disease or through faults in cell division.

Stem cells are cells which can be converted into any type of cell. On division they can either become stem cells again or develop into cells with specialized functions, such as muscle cell, red blood cell, or a nerve cell.

There are two types: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Work is being done to use stem cells to replace dysfunctional cells and organs. This suggests the potential to replace parts of the body as they wear out.

Skeletal muscle stem cells being inserted in damaged cardiac muscle to repair it.

Skeletal muscle stem cells being inserted in damaged cardiac muscle to repair it.

M A

o c

“Human beings do not live forever because the human body cannot maintain itself indefinitely.”

“Well If my telomeres are decreasing with every cell division then there is no way I can live forever?”

There are a few upcoming techniques by which your genes can be changed. In-vitro cell division capacity was increased to 600+.(Clontech Infinity line of Telomerase immortalized cells)

Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) approved on Jan. 20 the recombined human p53 adenovirus injection

Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) approved on Jan. 20 the recombined human p53 adenovirus injection

Amit Anand, Antony Holmes, Michael Li

Children with Progeria have telomeres that are much shorter than in normal cells and show signs of early ageing: baldness, prominent scalp veins and eyes, small jaw, heart disease and artery disease.

Children with Progeria have telomeres that are much shorter than in normal cells and show signs of early ageing: baldness, prominent scalp veins and eyes, small jaw, heart disease and artery disease.