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hello all
I've seen similar posts before usually addressing human immortality. feel free to disagree but i think that immorality is impossible, but what of indefinite life extension? there is currently research going on in a number of scientific fields such as:

“Telomere shortening or Maintenance”
Research is being carried out to produce possible products that can avoid telomere shortening. Telomeres are protective ends to chromosomes, and they are eventually shortened each time a cell divides. This process continues until the telomere becomes too short and the cell reaches a limit and dies ending life of the cell (the limit is technically called the hayflick limit).

Evolutionary Genomics
A company in California has successfully extended the life of animals by 300 percent in vitro. They have also found 300 genes associated with aging that are likely to correlate to human genes. The company is now trying to produce substance that can initiate these genes and ultimately extend human lifespan.

Aging Genes and Manipulation
Many firms and researching companies are discovering genes correlated with longevity, this might soon pay-off.

Immune System Modulation
The immune system has been analyzed by a company and they are saying that there might be a possibility to restore it to an earlier condition.

“Stem Cells”/ “Regenerative Medicine”
Stem cell research is taking an avenue in research interest. Stem cell therapies might soon be able to repair damaged cells and organs.

“Tissue Glycation” or Extracellular Aging
Stress can cause cross-linking in cells. Sugar, protein, fats and other things that are consumed can produce internal damage. Ways to rewind and to avoid cross-linking is in research.

“Mitochondrial Rejuvenation”/ (SENS)
It might be easier to repair damaged caused to various part of the body instead of preventing it from occurring. Mitochondrial provides chemical energy needed by cells and repairing it can alleviate various pathologies.

Dementia
Longevity makes us more prone to dementia. A company has already established a substance that halts the sequence of Parkinson as well as Alzheimer’s disease.

Nanomedicine
Nano-technology with nano-medicine will make it possible to repair tiny cells. Thereafter almost any cell and organ can be repaired in our body and thus restoring physiological health will be possible.

Genome Reengineering
In a cell there are approximately 25, 000 genes (computer programs). Knowledge of how to reprogram these genes is surfacing and this can make us more defiant to disease as well as aging.

So, as you can see there is significant research into the field of not only increasing life expectancy, but also finding the key to re "youthening" the human body so that one who is elderly can potentially return to a younger state.

what are your thoughts on this? ive seen alot of negative comments in the past, but does the information ive provided help to change your mind?
im not asking if you think this is morally right or not, or if you would want it or not...
do you think its a possiblility, and if so, do you think it is something that we might have in the next 100 years?
the next 50? how bout 25? or....how bout the next 10 years?

~W~

One can repair the aging process but accidents still occur on average every 800 years. Therefore to live forever is impossible as natural disasters, crime, bad driving, certain illness will always inflict too much damage at some stage.
Of course if one lived in a bomb shelter and DID nothing one may live longer but that defeats the point.

The being that scales the mountain or dodges bullets lives more in those few moments than the insurance clerk will in 1000 years.

Everything is relative, including time and life. So bust out those smokes and go party hard. LOL!

I believe that at least some of this science will start showing results within he next 10 years. At first, this will be available only to the wealthiest people, but eventually it should become available to most people.

This raises unprecedented issues. We already suffer from overpopulation. If the average life span is extended by 50 years or more, something will have to give. I predict that once the problem becomes acute, many countries will impose limits like those now imposed in China -- one child per mother. And, eventually, we may reach a point where only an elite few will be allowed to have children.

Wealthy people already live longer than people of average wealth. Insurance companies call this "enhanced mortality." As this unfolds, I predict that within 50 years, the wealthiest people may achieve lifespans that approach the infinite. The likely mechanisms include cloning and mechanical bodies, in each case requiring a transfer of memories and personality into a new vessel. Also, if the memories are downloaded periodically, the person can later be "rebooted" into a new vessel even of his/her body is destroyed in some cataclysm.

LW, I believe that the entire human paradigm will be changing, and at best we can scratch the surface in speculating how it will all play out.

It's already here. This research has been going on for over 30+ years, the techniques of trial and error have already been founded and products are already on the market.

EX: mitochondrial rejuvenation is used in cosmetic age-defying make-up and anti-wrinkle treatments. The best formula so far is newly released by Loreal, called Youth Code. It is genetically formulated to repair skin at a cellular level.

It works. Literally transforming your skin overnight. Considering the personal battle I face every day due to seizure activity causing a loss of essential amino acids in my body's metabolism, premature aging of my skin is a problem. For the price of eating out at one meal with my family, I can keep a small jar of this stuff for 2-3 months as part of my daily makeup routine.

As for other "research" out there already being applied to the market without the consumer's knowledge as ruled by the FDA in recent years...the sale and distribution of cloned meats.

Also for your consideration, organ donation will be a thing of the past since one can have their personal DNA infused invitro with a cow or a sheep fetus and the animal will grow as a living organism carrying duplicate, genetically-identical human organs that do not run the risk of rejection upon transplant.

Cattle are also being fused with human DNA to produce human blood for the same reasons, lack of human donation at the blood bank.

Considering ancient history, sure puts a new perspective on all those Egyptian hieroglyphs of people with animals heads now doesn't it?

This actually seems to be a natural progression for mankind. We live longer today than average humans 200 years ago who lived longer than those hundreds of years prior to them.

Yes changes in procreation may be necessary for life to continue as it is now on Earth or we humans may have to learn to live in much closer company than many of us are comfortable with doing. Perhaps this will encourage mankind to look again at ideals like making colonies under the sea or space exploration.

But while these ideals seem futuristic and strange, many things we take for granted today would never have been believed just 100 years ago.

So I do think it's not only possible but likely and as said will be for the wealthy at first but slowly work it's way throughout the population.

"""Of course if one lived in a bomb shelter and DID nothing one may live longer but that defeats the point."""

Now thats thinking like an ancient vampire ;)

The main issue with any kind of anti-aging life expanding drug will be profit. Companies will make the drugs costly and the user will need repeat treatments, thus the new item from Loreal that was mentioned. There has already been talk of population control in the US for years but it is mostly low level rumble. People have wanted only the wealthy to have children to reduce the welfare states. In the end it will come down to the have and have nots fighing for control.

I wondered who would pick up on that point, well done Mr A.Volt... Not my cup of tea though.

Yes CaB, the rich V's the poor ,money will be life or death.
The niaive bankers think this imbalance will not lead to social breakdown. Mainly because they are stupid number crunchers who misunderstand the nature of the beast... ; ]

Caughtfire, I believe that what you predict will be a phase that will last for 20 to 50 years, but no longer than that. Drug companies can reap monopoly profits for 20 years in the U.S., then any other company can make and sell a generic version.

The patent period used to be 17 years, but in 1995 the drug companies persuaded Congress to extend this to 20 years. Even assuming more corrupt Congresses, it seems unlikely that they would go beyond 30 to 50 years. And it might take 100 years or 200 years, but eventually age extension may cost less than a gallon of gasoline.

I have a remote hope that this will happen in my lifetime, and if it does, I would pay everything I have to revert to my 25 year old body. With a new body every 25 years or so, I could work forever, or at least until I have saved enough to retire for infinity, at which point I might look and feel as young as my great-great grandchildren.

We are encountering a new form of evolution that will take centuries instead of millennia, and I believe that the next 50 years will be both excruciating and exciting.

as for it only being for the wealthiest...
yes...at first.

big screen tvs were once crazy expensive...but the wealthy bought enough of them so that the price came down

i think the bigger consideration would be things like retirement....if you choose to get the treatment, then you should forgo retirement, social security, etc.
i also think you should be medically sterilized so that you cant go on for 500 years just reproducing and reproducing.

still...i think it would rock to just keep on going...i have alot i still want to do...several lifetimes worth.
~W~

Honestly, It wouldn't matter to me if i lived longer or not. The body will eventually break down much like an old car. Sure you can prolong something but for what purpose? Eventually people do grow tired of seeing the same things over and over again. I guess it only matters to those that really had a good reason behind it.

Also i'd like to further add that paying for a life extention wouldn't guarantee anything. That will fly out of the window should you say...get murdered, hit by a car, or some other type of ending. lol

Once brain waves can be downloaded daily, murder and car crashes will not stop someone from rebooting into a new body that is young and perfect.

Hey, it would be cool! I would prefer
an extension.....as long as quality of life could be preserved. Why not!

However, should an accident happen or the world comes to its inevitable end ....so be it. Something like that could happen with or without an extension.

what if it not drugs that cause this life extension? alot of research going on now is on nanites...microscopic robots that could patrol inside of us as cells and correct damage to cells. in that case how long would they work for?
we would prolly have to be re injected with new nanites from time to time if we continue to continue.

that said, there is the profit base for the research, and also the way out.
if you get bored with life...dont get new treatments.

or just shoot yourself in the head...that works as well.

as for myself, i really quite enjoy life, so id like to go on indefinably.

as for the haves vs the have nots. imagine even if you at the low end of the socio economic scale...youd have tons of time to go to school, save and save, get your treatment, and really contribute to society rather than just feed on society.

i wont call it a utopia because there is no such thing, but i think it could create a really amazing new world.
~W~

Nanites are very interesting field of study. They could be set up to be self replicating to avoid the re-injection problem that was mentioned. At best all we can do is speculate.

I'm still not convinced on the cost issue though. The big screen tv example is based on a commodity. I would akin life extension more to cosmetic surgery. At first yes it was for only the very wealthy and the yes the price has come down some. However the procedure is still at the upper end of bracket with the average American not being able to afford a surgery that is not necessary.

lets face it.. it will become a moral issue: those who can afford this tech, will: others.. which means most of us.. will not.

some things will not change, not matter what the technology available.

(Bows in utmost reverence)
I will put my opinion in analysis way:
In anicent scripts, in Ramayana and Mahabharata, there is mention of extending the age.
The demon character Ravana in Ramayana, came to know the making and expansion and living of whole Universe (multiverse in todays language) with every minute act of cause and effects in the making and prevailing in this world. He then conqured the daity of death alongwith all deities ( Meaning here he decyphered the codes to live long and without death) then he got ambrosia too (the technique or the bio-culture soup) and absorbed in his body. He lived successfully for thousands of years (unknown years) as the king of materialistic world.
But then the Creator took sharp arc and the things happened arround
Ravana erred the mind and acts of demon Ravana in front of divine power caused to bring his death. The Birth of Lord Rama was took to end the empire of Ravana and to kill all demons from mateialistic world.

Rama had most furious arms in his armoury and control of whole nature of the whole universe. He then in attacks first took ambrosia off from Ravana's Body and then weathered the death of Ravana.

In Mahabharata, the Warrior lord Bhishm was known for no death till he decided. but the situation moulded the way that his grand nephew Arjuna killed him with Bhishm's own wishes.

In nearby past, it is said that yoga may extend the life.

only creature known to extend its life is falcon. Falcon nearby when it is of 80-85 years, goes to top of the mountain on any rock where no predetor and no insect bites, that time falcon snatch its all feathers and then wait there to come fresh feather and live around 150 years.

And other thing is mind boggling. I believe that purest your mind, longer you will live.

i had this conversation with my sister from time to time. i think of the wonders that we might see as the years pass....

but she says ...no...she would absolutely NOT have any treatment that offered life extension of the type we are discussing (altho she doesnt have any issues with medical procedures existing today. funny how that works lol).

it will be interesting to see how mankind handles it. i seem to recall a book i once read where you end up with two classes of people.

the "immortals" that live up on the hill (i dont recall where they lived, but it was hard to get to), and the people that didnt take the treatment....that live a normal (short) life and die.

in the book there was a revolution with those that had the normal lives overthrowing the immortals....and pretty much all of civilization with it.

it does raise some interesting questions tho.
~W~

Personally, I do not think there will be such a drastic change in a timespan of only a 100 years. I doubt there will even be such a change at all. Scientists will find the method, yes, but it will never see the daylight.

To introduce immortality to humanity would destroy every social system there exists. The only thing that is characteristic to all living things is that our time is limited, we are mortal. Everybody wishes to live a little bit longer or forever and if they do not wish for it themselves, then they wish it for that one person they lost and would want to have back. Everyone has their own reasons for it, but those reasons are limited in time as well.

If one day scientists say they can make humans immortal, it will cause pure panic. Everybody will be wanting to become immortal no matter what the cost and everybody will be wanting it immediately. Of course, the rich will be served first (that hasn't changed and will not change for money is power). But what with the millions that cannot afford it? Will they sit by and accept their mortal fate? Will they watch the rich while they brag with their money, power and immortality? Will they watch as everyone they love is dying around them knowing they will face the same fate?
The answer is no. And the result is world war 3.

Another thing...We all can imagine what we would do when granted eternal life. But what when we have seen all there is to see, when we have heard all there is to be heard and we have felt, smelled, lived through everything there is to be felt, smelled and lived. Isn't the only experience then left death itself?

Also while we are busy making our dreams come true, who will 'take care' of the world? If we would all abandon our work starting tomorrow, the world would end. Imagine if everyone would persue their dreams..who would stay home and work for it all to make the world turn around? If your answer is 'the mortal' then think again and add that to the list of malcontentedness stated above. Also, if you were a mortal one, would you accept that fate?

If the point is to make everyone immortal then my question is, would it be by freezing our cells and stay young forever or by renewing cell technology so that we have to take treatments once every few years?

If the first, then reproduction would be impossible because the whole process of reproduction is based on the dividing of cells.
If the second, then it wouldn't be immortality, but only the prolongation of life.

By freezing the cells, it would make healing impossible as well.
If renewing cell technology is the answer, then this will remain a privilidge for the rich because in the end, they are the ones that will have enough money to keep prolongating their existence. If they decide to reproduce along with it, that would leave the world with only the richest families who are able to keep affording this, while all the rest is dying around them.

Another thing..The rich hold the power. But what if that person is evil, a threat to society or even the world. He/She however holds the power to buy their elongated life and to keep on terrorizing everything and everyone around them. Imagine Hitler being immortal..

I do not think 'downloading' the contents and capacity of the brain will be a possibility for the near future. Scientists still haven't figured out entirely how the brain works. They do not know how the information we see, smell, feel,... is converted to memories, they do not know how those memories are recognised and brought back to life again by thinking about them, they do not know how the brain connects one dot to another. They have figured a few things out, but the most part remains mystery..for now that is.

Those are just a few things that make me think immortality would be the end of the world. Immortality would be the cause of rapid mortality.

I apologize for my extremely long post. While writing this, I realised I could not say one thing without mentioning another. But trust me, I could think of a lot more arguments.. :)

but going by the same logic , why prolong life as long as we do? why not just forego any medical treatment for any medical condition?

if aging is a medical condition, then it can be treated, so it would be just like other treatable conditions.

only the rich can get it?
then i think ill work on getting a job that makes lots of money. its not that difficult to plan a career that has the single goal of making lots of cash...i never have because id rather have fun frankly than do the work to accumulate money.

of course its not immortality, just a longer life

you dont think it will be in the next 100 years? based on what?

100 years ago, an airplane was a box kite with a small motor...radio could communicate with morse code, but they couldnt transmit voice yet. cars also were basically go carts. women couldnt vote, any sort of cancer was pretty much a death sentence,
you get the idea.

look at how far and how fast computer tech has evolved. medical tech has evolved at a similar rate....and now we have mapped the human genome, and things are about to speed up significantly.

you may be vastly surprised at what is about to happen.

oh...as for it never reaching the light of day...what would stop it?
as has been said, there would be some huge money being thrown around to treat the rich first.
and as you also said...money does indeed talk.

i really do think this is something that might be difficult to afford for a common person, but still something that they could afford if they really focused on it.
my dos centavos
~W~

Forgive me, it was not my intention to offend you or to make you angry. I was merely giving you my point of view. Noone can predict the future, so it is very possible I could be wrong. Doesn't change the way I feel about it though.

As I said in my previous post, everybody wishes to live longer. And nobody will just give up when diagnosed with a disease. There is a difference however in treating a disease or to prolongate life just for the sake of it. When a child is sick, you will do everything as a parent to cure them. But when the time for your grandmother to pass away has come, you just stand by and hope she doesn't suffer. You realise the child hasn't lived enough to see the things they need to see, but you accept the fact your grandmother has.

When a person dies, he or she makes room in the world for another one. But what when everybody is immortal. Who will decide who's life has been rich enough so they can make room for the next? What will be the standards of a fulfilled life? Surely, you cannot think there will be room for all of us for eternity.

I see where you are coming from saying that aging is a medical condition. I, however, do not think it is because everybody is 'suffering' from it then. By changing this aspect of life, you would not cure it, you would just change the entire evolution. Death is not a disease, it is only sometimes the result of a disease.

You can plan whatever you want, but the reality is different. It's not because you plan on becoming rich, that you automatically will. There are so many factors involved that you can make an educated guess based on current facts, but noone will ever be able to achieve their future exactly the way they planned.

I base my opinion on what I see and the conclusions I draw from it. Every action has a reaction. Industrialisation has caused polution and deseases like asthma and allergies. Stress has become the common and main factor in our lives. We find a cure for the flew, it mutates into a mexican flew. We invent plains, plains cause catastrophies. And don't worry, it's not like that invention is waterproof. Nature decides a vulcano will blow some ashes in the air and all plains are worthless. Result is panic and stress because people can't fly home anymore. How many people die in car accidents on a yearly basis? If someone beats cancer, it still is considered a victory, whether sience has improved or not. Yes, they have radiation therapy and pills and this and that, but still, cancer is considered a lethal disease.
So you are right about how far we have evolved in 100 years, but the consequences have as well.

Why it will never reach the daylight? How many things do you think the government is keeping a secret from you now? Do you know every move they make, every decision and the grounds they are basing them on?
Someone like Mr Assange decides to make a website WikiLeaks, exposing some of the secrets. Next thing he is being arrested for 'so called crimes' he has commited, but for lack of evidence he is released after paying an enormous bail. And he is now being watched 24/7. Why do you think that is?

Another thing. You say you think this is something that might be difficult to afford for a common person, but still something that they could afford if they really focused on it. Now tell me, how many people in Africa can't afford a simple meal once a day? Or even water for that matter? How many people live on the streets because their home was flooded or ripped apart by a tornado and they can't afford to build another one? How many people in America can't seem to find the money to go undertake a simple procedure to improve their health? How many people can't buy their medicine because it's too expensive or can't send their child on a school trip because it's either that or not be able to buy groceries for a week?

How many things are done to help and improve the situations of those people? Actions to raise money? And how much progress do you see? We can't even seem be able to perform such a mundane task as giving money so somebody else can eat and that money actually going to that person.

My previous post started with 'personally' and ended with 'that makes me think..'. This post is not different and remains my humble personal opinion. I have every right to disagree with someone elses opinion as they have every right to disagree with mine. As long as it is respectful, I have no problem with it at all.

We are talking about the future though and since noone can really say what will happen, there is a possibility that I might be wrong. If, however, within the next 100 years scientists will find the formula of life prolongation or immortality, then I will gladly knock on LordWolf's door and will kindly apologize.
Until then, this is my opinion on the matter.

you didnt make me angry in any way, i was only trying to answer your points. if i seemed to be so, you have my apology.

ill just make this point. while the break down in our bodies is natural, its also a treatable condition.

once upon a time it was very unusual for a child to know his/her grandparents, and today it is common....an evolution in society.

your right it will be an evolution...and each person must deal as they will...i personally welcome it.

oh...and the industrial revolution certainly did unleash many unpleasant things...but it also brought fast transportation, communication, medicine, and a host of other things that if we were to be without just now we would be miserable.

there is an old saying ....that which does not grow, dies.
i think it is time for us to grow as a species.

again, not angry, just a different point of view, and we all should feel free to share those here.
~W~

The cover story of this week's Time Magazine is entitled "2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal." I would recommend such article to anyone who is interested in this topic.

The most interesting part to me appears on page 47. According to the article, in November researchers announced that they had successfully reversed age-related degeneration in mice, and the mice did not just get healthier, they also got YOUNGER. The secret -- an enzyme known as telomerase.

If you research telomerase (Wikipedia is a good place to start), you will find that it may promote cancer. But it is encouraging to know that there is something out there that is already proven to make old mice regenerate young, healthy bodies.

And here is a lecture by one of the key researchers of telomerase -- skip to minute 15 or so to get to the interesting part.

I've thought about this over the last few years....amazing how as we age we think about our own mortality ;)

I keep coming back to the same answer - Why?

Why would I want to prolong my life here? Especially if my loved ones passed on, what's to keep me here. The future is for my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren etc

My life experiences would have little meaning if I just kept on going. Personally, I can't wait to see what's next. This life hopefully isn't all there is :)

*inclines head out of respect

i feel the need to get a little personal with my answer here
this research that has been spoken of in this thread is sooo important it could and will possibly be life saving and i say this because i have survived cancer ..because of newer research..only to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and lupus connective tissue disorder..2 disorders that slowly kill the body..and no i dont share this for pity or attention i share this because this research could possibly one day save my life and many others who suffer from neurological and auto immune disorders in my opinion stem cell research has already shown us many things with neurological research some people never thought possible
so you see its not just about prolonging a healthy persons life but possibly curing or putting someone into a kind of permanent remission as for costs to patients i believe several of you are correct at first it will be for the rich but as the treatments are more widely used eventually hopefully all those in need of them will be able to make full use of them i urge all who read this to support these research projects in whatever way you can they are more important to some than anyone could know thank you *bows

One of the most interesting topic in a thread. Yes, life is changing and scientist are working their butt to make it happen to a new dimension. Do you hear about Karyotyping. Is a test to examine chromosomes in a sample of cells, which can help identify genetic problems as the cause of a disorder or disease. This test can:
* Count the number of chromosomes
* Look for structural changes in chromosomes
If you look some info, they are different name as alternative: Chromosome analysis is the most common.
The test can be performed on almost any tissue, including:
* Amniotic fluid
* Blood
Read more: http://www.righthealth.com/topic/karyotyping#ixzz1EQHvm3zB

Touchjewlz's argument seems compelling to me. Restoration of nerve tissue and other tissue is a desirable goal, in order to allow some people to be healthy. Research in this area will likely lead to treatments that can be adapted to extension of the human lifespan.

I have given this some additional thought and foresee another possible benefit from people living longer -- additional wisdom and an increased valuation of peace and prosperity.

thank you luke and i highly agree increased knowledge ..could lead to..a possibly .more enlightened world?

Let's get hypothetical =]
Say this, or something like this, happens and people can live as long as they want to (you wouldn't have to live forever). You wouldn't have to worry about losing your loved ones: just give them the elixir too. What you would really have to worry about is a mandatory life-span. Basically that means to avoid overpopulation and the starvation+disease that comes with it, you would be forced to die once you reach a certain age. Necessity trumps morality

possibly..although maybe by then space exploration would have progressed to other planets....many possibilities with the hypothetical situations

Interesting idea, forced suicide. I’m not sure how that would even work or begin to play on people’s minds. I do eagerly await this emerging field of science and wish to see where it goes. The implications are not just life extension of curing diseases but wait till major league sports figures out how to exploit it.

I'd love an extension.

What if it was only offered to the part of society that contributed largely?

President, government, senate, etc...?

I believe it is possable but would be very costly and most likely like a chemo treatment very painful and I dont believe it would be a one time treatment but a repeated treatment like when people get botox it will wear off or out and need replaced this would be for the very rich and vein

If mankind could figure out fusion power, then we could create enough food, water and shelter for a much larger population. Fusion power would also allow us to eventually colonize Mars.

we have the means to do that already, it's just that nobody wants to do it.
rather than support a larger civilization, it would be easy to make it possible for it to support itself. However, that means that people with power would have to relinquish it... which is not so easy..

the current plan is to have a camp of sorts built on the moon where astronauts and scientists would live and have to survive on their own for a year..if successful then a trip to mars where same type of camp would be set up and lived in for five years with a re-evaluation of the program then...but my point to my original comment was just to point out the fact that there are always many possibilities to hypothetical situations ...and would redirect back to the topic by saying..bottom right now this minute these research project save lives and have the Possibility to save many many more..and yes indefinite age extension would raise many questions concerning several issues ..that could possibly occur... and such fun to watch and see the results...what an awesome journey it could possibly be

As tempting as it sounds I'm not really sure I'd want to live forever or even longer than we can. I take comfort in knowing that I'll die one day.

humans never learn do they? they keep trying to step above their station and have immortality, they will never get it. humanity will just have to learn to accept age and death as part of the natural order. over population is a serious problem as it is, if humanity attained immortality then this world will be drained of its resources and forests etc and the world will more or less end. death exists for a good reason. to make way for the next generation and to keep the balance. but human fear and greed will never allow life to just be, they will keep trying with science and sacrifices.
sure they may find ways to extend their life but never for eternity and should they do, nature might find a way around that and end them.

Look at it this way. A few decades ago the average person didn't live past 35-40 years old and that was REALLY old to them. Now you've got people at 100 and still moving around fine on their own. With the new technologies in age defiance and all that jazz I'm pretty sure we'll figure out a way to extend it even further but do we really want to? If you've lived that long already and done what you can do, what else is there to live for? Who REALLY wants to live forever? I don't.

the answer to that is easy, of course humanity wants to! but they shouldn't go for it. the average person depending on the sex, lives from 60/70 to 80/90, of course living conditions effect this. and with just that life span they have ruined the planet. imagine what a world full of immortal people could do. hell the humans that has short life spans still made this world terrible. science has its uses here and there but when it comes to life and how it works, they should back the hell off.

This has been ongoing for years as Luke pointed out......

Why in a society today do we all have to be so scared of death??

well the body no i am with you there , but we all have a soul and with it can live on forever if in eternal rest or eternal suffering .
But yes we do live on but as for emortality it is a state of mind some may seek it and when they find it not want it at all

I think they may have found the secret to immortality ( a longer existence with quality of life). But does anyone honestly think it would be made available to the public? Really, it would remain for only a select few. Imagine the chaos if people had it at their disposal!

I 'd be willing to be they also found a cure for cancer too, and do you think the drug companies would ever let that information out?

well as for a cure for cancer move to sweeden they have many it is made free to all...
but as for true mortality the only way is to be of a gift and i dont think that any human can give it or get it...
its only a dream ....
just think our body were all made to die some day the only way to stop it is to stop time and if you do that then you have to be not of this world so are and yet they would never say that they are not of this world
i believe in area 51 but not of the one in books or movies of one that our governments know of things they dont want the public to know such as tec edvancements that would lead us to believe that there is no end to what science can do ...
but you know there is but i believe that they control when things come to be and as for an ageless person the day will come and very soon all health boundries will be broken and there is nothing the drug or health or gov can do about it , i believe its only a matter of time before all is out or it could be out aready and we just dont know were to look for the info so its all in good time ...

wait there are cures for cancer in sweden? why is that not major news

because you have to live there to get it and its not news not all cancers just some of the most common and it is after the fact that you get it and they take it out and get ride of it all most of them are plants and some from china and all over the world the docs dont want what sweeden has because its given out for free , well not free because in sweeden everyone pays for health care its taken out of your check and its like a % not a $ amount so the more you make the more it cost you for your health care so its like you are not only paying for yours but others too and we all know that would never happen here lol

The average lifespan for men and women over the centuries has been going up.

In a nutshell:

- Very little and/or no drugs, alcohol, or overeating.
- Excercise and inheriting good genes.
- Advances in medicine

As for living for 125+ years...good luck.

I think before we worry about life extension we have to worry about our planet and taking care of it. None of this will mean a thing if we cannot breathe here without equipment. I am an elderly person and I have seen the changes take place over time with the planet and just the viewpoints of those that live on it.

Russia has been doing DNA research for awhile with sound and I think many things will come out of that area. I also have read that they are just a step away from knowing how to rejuvenate T-cells. BUT, I do believe there will never be anything like what comes out of fantasy. I think yes, life extension for a long time but I think there would be a point that one would have to stop. I wouldn't mind another 50 years to see my grandkids grow up. I will not live that long. I don't believe in the heaven and hell scenario but I do believe in a continuation in another form. What I would want really at this time is quality of life. Even if age wasn't extended I would want to be able to get around easily and not suffer like most older people from arthritis, eyesight problems and things like that. The other would just be a bonus but I don't think it will ever be in the sense of never dying.

There would be those fanatical people, I believe mostly religious, that would be entirely against anything to do with life extension. You would have a problem of resentment and class problems I think. Sounds good when talking about it but I am not so sure living longer would be that great except what is going on naturally by learning better habits with health such as diet and refraining from things like smoking. Then one might live somewhat longer naturally. We are now but the quality of life remains the same and it's not that good for older people.

May I recommend a book "The Masters of Solitude" set in the future the writer cleverly describes how all lives are extended using replacement parts grown in Labs as and when they are needed.
Of course the problem with indefinite age extension is catastrophic accidents or illnesses. One can have a perfect body and system aged 260 but if you are hit by a train , caught in a Twister or shot during a robbery it will make no differnce. I think statisticians have calculated that on average a person would die aged 700 to 800 years anyway due to a catastophic incident.

It interests me greatly that so many Vampire fans wish to live so long, particularly as most are "dark" and tend to depise life in general.

The Vampire is the greatest oxymoron...cruel kindness...live forever miserable one.

Philosophy...well, if there is no good or evil and we are all under the makers devine works, then a question;
What then if the maker views the Emo's and depressed souls as ungrateful entities who need alittle more time to appreciate all the makers hard work?
Thus you can take foolsih risks, drink and smoke yourself to death but, no no my friend, you aren't leaving quite yet. The scientists amongst you could devise some nasty experiments to test how far the risk taking could go? just a thought.
Of course scientists know observing a cat can effect the outcome so perhaps a random sample from Vr would be more accurate.

Think we're getting off topic here..

"It interests me greatly that so many Vampire fans wish to live so long, particularly as most are "dark" and tend to depise life in general.

The Vampire is the greatest oxymoron...cruel kindness...live forever miserable one."

AlieNation, think that's an interesting concept..maybe wouldn't be a bad idea for another forum thread to hear people's opinions on that one..


AsphaltTears, I do agree on the fact prolongation of life wouldn't be as good as the improvement of the quality of life.. One isn't necessarily the same as the other!
So yes, you are right on that..

Glad to hear some people seem to agree with my previous posts.. Guess I'm not the only one with that mind set..

well you all will think i am nuts but there will come a day when man begs for death to come and it will not ..
i think this is nothing to do with meds but every thing to do with science , science will come up with ways for us to regrow organs , body parts and arms and legs ...
and all this might already be posable but the gov and other fators are just not ready for us to know about it...
you see animals do this all the time and we are more than half way to solving the gnome factor and when they know that they will have answers that i believe no man should have they will play the part of a god and make a man just like frankenstine but unlike him they will not use dead man but alive one and just change his or her dna so that the dna can fix itself and it will not need the out side sorces that it does now to help or work

I do not believe immortality is a possibility. However, as knowledge increases and science improves, I believe human lives will be able to be extended. Perhaps in several decades, it will be able to be extended indefinitely. However, I believe that personality and soul can only stay alive for so long. I believe the body will be able to be kept alive indefinitely but only in a vegetable sort of state.

well here is something every one might find to be of big news a man with a plastic heart lives longer then one with the one he is born with and can eat what ever he wants and that is do to naites little computer bugs that they put in his blood to unclog any clogs , but still must exercise to keep the fat off .
also in some ware people are starting to replace the brain with a chip that works better the the brain and as for bones they can be replaced by something new that is stronger last longer and is more exceptable to the body .
and the places were they have this stuff its all given to them , not free but they were not rich and some of them were very poor .
we in the usa are just to into the money thing and it will be our down fall

no tosser will put nano machines or chips in my brain and its the worst thing that can happen to the human body. whats to stop that chip or nanites from controlling a person or giving suggestions or even keeping track of the person?

humans live and die and thats that, they should just except it.
if they want to live longer they should. A) not piss anyone off B) don't stand on a train track or road. and C)don't do the obvious smoking and drugs.

the nanos cant do anything that they are not programed to do and you still need your brain to control the chip so you are still the boss

maybe but the chip can be capable of anything.

Ironic.. If that chip gets stuck it's a clog all by itself..

it is said that 98% of our body renew itself each year, as if we are a new person, but there is a glitch and at a certain point that renewal stops and it start to decay and we are getting sick or other health issue or weakness then we die.

thats the law of nature and its going to stay that way, i won't have it any other way.

Crying Mist you are correct, QI explained how every person who is thirty or forty or sixty is one average only 12 years old.

To explain-the cells are replaced throughout the body...blood tissue is replaced every few weeks where as bone structure and tendons have a far longer shelf life.

The average throughout the body being 12 years.

I think I already do in some degree. Isnt that the whole purpose of moisteriser etc. It doesnt do it fully but they like you to believe it does