01-21-2008, 11:22 PM | #381 |
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I read a very interesting article in Cosmos Magazine called "Unravelling the secret of ageing" (Issue 17, p. 74).
Just to give an idea of what it's about, I'll quote the headline of the article: "More than 30 years after discovering an extraordinary enzyme that prevents the threads of our DNA from fraying, Elizabeth Blackburn is still straightening out the curly question of why our cells age." Basically, at the tips of our chromosomes are long segments of DNA (telomeres) consisting of the same three base pairs repeated possibly fifty or more times across the segment, called telogenes. As the cell divides, one of these is lost. After subsequent divisions and subsequent losses, when the telogenes are used up, the cell-division loss moves on to the next thing along the chromosomes: our actual active genome. This eating away at our genes could possibly be the reason for which we age. The enzyme telomerase can restore the missing ends of the telomeres. Some of you may recall that I mentioned another article on longevity in Scientific American. I'll revisit that issue and summarize it. The two articles represent two basic facets of genetic engineering or modification: the telomerase article would be more applicable as somatic gene modification (in other words, can be used and effects felt in vivo), and the other article on the SIRT4 gene family would be more likely categorized with germline gene modification (meaning, basically, a benign sort of eugenics).
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01-21-2008, 11:29 PM | #382 |
Kraken King
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We studied telomeres some in AP. it is an interesting proposition, but what about mechanical ageing? Can our tissues really withstand the weathering effects our environment, even now, still expends on us?
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01-21-2008, 11:42 PM | #383 | |
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Nothing lasts forever, though, so the effects of mechanical aging would be merely slowed down. I'm not exactly sure what the processes are for gene copying, addition, and deletion are, so therefore I don't know the limitations yet. A gene's gotta know his limitations.
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01-21-2008, 11:51 PM | #384 |
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We studied that breifly too. The gene for for repairing the telomeres could make the telomeres too long, I'm not sure what that would do though. But yes, mechanical ageing would likely continue, with genetic ageing at a stand still. But those genes could malfunction and start a sequenceing gene, which could result in cell death, but that is just shallow speculation.
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One of my top ten favorite movies. "You ever try to flick a fly? "No." "It's a waste of time." "Can you see it?" "No." "It's right there!" "Where? "There!" "What is it?" "A crab." "A crab? I dont see any crab." "How?! It's right there!!" "Where?" "There!!!!" "Oh." -Excerpts from A Tale of Two Morons |
01-22-2008, 12:05 AM | #385 | |
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Probably more room for error there than anywhere else.
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01-22-2008, 12:13 AM | #386 |
Kraken King
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There actually allready is a suicide gene in normal cells, that will activate if the cell begins behaving abnormally.
Here's a link. Jump around a little bit, there's information to be had. I'm tired, night. Here's a nice video, too
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One of my top ten favorite movies. "You ever try to flick a fly? "No." "It's a waste of time." "Can you see it?" "No." "It's right there!" "Where? "There!" "What is it?" "A crab." "A crab? I dont see any crab." "How?! It's right there!!" "Where?" "There!!!!" "Oh." -Excerpts from A Tale of Two Morons Last edited by Nautipus : 01-22-2008 at 12:19 AM. |
01-22-2008, 01:10 AM | #387 |
the Shrike
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We don't need to organically live forever - the sooner we can download our consciousness into mechanoid or organic-mechanoid repositories, the better.
Here's some (imo) rather fascinating predictions by futurist, Raymond Kurzweil
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01-22-2008, 02:06 PM | #388 |
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First, we need to figure out what conciousness is, then what subconcious is, then find a way to equate that to known biological processes (along with finding out what memories are), then we will be on the right track.
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One of my top ten favorite movies. "You ever try to flick a fly? "No." "It's a waste of time." "Can you see it?" "No." "It's right there!" "Where? "There!" "What is it?" "A crab." "A crab? I dont see any crab." "How?! It's right there!!" "Where?" "There!!!!" "Oh." -Excerpts from A Tale of Two Morons |
01-22-2008, 02:29 PM | #389 | |
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As for mechanical damage, that matters little as long as cellular reproduction is continued, because the continued reproduction of cells is what maintains "mechanical" stability. The way to fix mechanical damage would simply be initiating cell growth and division: a feat easily accomplished with portioned amounts of steriods. |
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01-22-2008, 02:36 PM | #390 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
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One of my top ten favorite movies. "You ever try to flick a fly? "No." "It's a waste of time." "Can you see it?" "No." "It's right there!" "Where? "There!" "What is it?" "A crab." "A crab? I dont see any crab." "How?! It's right there!!" "Where?" "There!!!!" "Oh." -Excerpts from A Tale of Two Morons |
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01-22-2008, 02:53 PM | #391 |
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Hmm... Well, what if instead of trying to treat an entire organism at once with ungodly amounts of drugs and enzymes being pumped into their bodies we try work small with singular cells from tissues.
What we could do is take samle cells from a "subject/donor" of each of their many different types of tissues and using these grow cells that would be nutured with the same treatments mentioned early and then after they have undergone an inspection of their genetic stability, they are kept on ice until the "subject/donor" requires such cells. Then, all that would need doing would be the re-insertion of the cells in their rightfull place and allow the process to continue again. Of course, this wouldn't stop other cells from malfunctioning, but it would, given enough individual cells, start the life cycle of the persons tissues anew. Perhaps this might be a way of approaching it? |
01-22-2008, 03:03 PM | #392 |
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I agree, it could be a way to start, but the possibilities of genetic maladies are still very much real, especially cancer in these "perfect" cells. First, I believe, we would need a much more comprehensive knowledge of the function of all the parts of DNA, introns and exons alike, then proceed with, hopefully, fully biological and non drug-related alteration of the exhisting genome to fiit the needs of a specified host's malady, or shortcoming.
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One of my top ten favorite movies. "You ever try to flick a fly? "No." "It's a waste of time." "Can you see it?" "No." "It's right there!" "Where? "There!" "What is it?" "A crab." "A crab? I dont see any crab." "How?! It's right there!!" "Where?" "There!!!!" "Oh." -Excerpts from A Tale of Two Morons |
01-22-2008, 03:05 PM | #393 |
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And now I'm very hungry and tired, TTYL, my good friend.
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One of my top ten favorite movies. "You ever try to flick a fly? "No." "It's a waste of time." "Can you see it?" "No." "It's right there!" "Where? "There!" "What is it?" "A crab." "A crab? I dont see any crab." "How?! It's right there!!" "Where?" "There!!!!" "Oh." -Excerpts from A Tale of Two Morons |
01-22-2008, 03:10 PM | #394 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
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That would be the swirling vortex to another world. Cool. I want one. TMNT No, I'm not emo. I just have a really poor sense of direction. (Thanks to katya for this quote) This is the best news story EVER! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26087293/ “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”...John McCain "I shall go back. And I shall find that therapist. And I shall whack her upside her head with my blanket full of rocks." ...Louisa May |
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01-22-2008, 03:23 PM | #395 |
Kraken King
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Well, I dont necissarily agree with the proposition, but one must understand that it isnt about extending a genetic line, but about lengthening an individual's life, something far less grand.
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One of my top ten favorite movies. "You ever try to flick a fly? "No." "It's a waste of time." "Can you see it?" "No." "It's right there!" "Where? "There!" "What is it?" "A crab." "A crab? I dont see any crab." "How?! It's right there!!" "Where?" "There!!!!" "Oh." -Excerpts from A Tale of Two Morons |
01-22-2008, 03:52 PM | #396 | |
Elf Lord
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They're in that situation because they can't put down their forks. That's the long and short of it. You can add in a bit about fertility treatments, drug abuse, and a few other things that contribute to a population that can't scrape along without significant medical assistance, but essentially our problem is gluttony. Now, back up a bit and look at how resources are apportioned, world-wide. Then tell me that the appropriate use of our gifts is to extend the individual life of someone via genetic research. I'm having trouble seeing that as important.
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That would be the swirling vortex to another world. Cool. I want one. TMNT No, I'm not emo. I just have a really poor sense of direction. (Thanks to katya for this quote) This is the best news story EVER! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26087293/ “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”...John McCain "I shall go back. And I shall find that therapist. And I shall whack her upside her head with my blanket full of rocks." ...Louisa May |
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01-22-2008, 04:06 PM | #397 | |
Kraken King
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The point you make is entirely valid, but like I said:
Quote:
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One of my top ten favorite movies. "You ever try to flick a fly? "No." "It's a waste of time." "Can you see it?" "No." "It's right there!" "Where? "There!" "What is it?" "A crab." "A crab? I dont see any crab." "How?! It's right there!!" "Where?" "There!!!!" "Oh." -Excerpts from A Tale of Two Morons |
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01-23-2008, 05:07 AM | #398 |
the Shrike
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You should read the wiki link I posted. He predicts that we will soon be able to build the human brain.
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01-23-2008, 04:06 PM | #399 | ||
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Can he build me one? Mine's broken.
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01-23-2008, 05:24 PM | #400 |
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and mine is full! i need an external brain.
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