X-Message-Number: 2496
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: CRYONICS: Re: cryonics #2495
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1993 22:26:47 -0800 (PST)

Hi!

I actually subscribe to NATURE and read both the scientific article about
nematodes and the discussion of it by Harvey. The basic point the discussion
made was that this phenomenon --- ONE SINGLE GENE doubling longevity --- 
is probably one more version of how special metabolic conditions can cause
longevity without really giving any hints about what we humans can do to
attain it. (The phenomena isn't new: Octopuses die shortly after reproduction;
prevent them by castration from reproducing and they live for much longer.
Similar things have been done with salmon).

I do hope to report on this experiment in PERIASTRON (next issue). The actual
source --- as distinct from media commentary on it --- arrived too late for
the latest (November) issue. I also believe, mainly on the basis of observat-
ions many have made about how different kinds of diseases attack people at
different ages, that there are 2 switches that get thrown in our own 
metabolism to turn off different repair processes. The nematode work may
ultimately lead us to such a switch, but just how long that may take isn't
clear as yet. (Incidentally, castrated humans do NOT live longer than normal).
One major problem (suggested by the observation I just made about castration)
is that we don't just want to live a long time. We want to retain various
powers and abilities. (Take it to the limit: if we can modify our genes to
live a long time, then the solution to longevity is simple: we turn ourselves
into Sequoias and live for thousands of years!).

Finally, the observation made by Paul Harvey at the beginning of his article
is at best ambiguous about immortality.

Best wishes, Merry Christmas (or Winter Solstice) and a long long life,
	Thomas Donaldson

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