X-Message-Number: 26280
Date: Sat, 4 Jun 2005 09:07:07 -0400
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: about immortal fungi

For Doug Skrecky and his readers:

The important issue in immortality for a variety of fungus isn't really
the metabolic path they follow or fail to follow that removes their
aging, but just how close does this metabolic path resemble one 
which we or mammals in general follow. Despite the recent discovery
that even some kinds of bacteria show aging, I wouldn't be very surprised
at all if some life forms show no aging at all in the wild, and in
their normal state. The real problem in achieving agelessness for
us humans consists of working out a metabolic path that lets us do
this while at the same time not injuring us in other ways (sure, the
problem is easy! We just turn ourselves into suitably ageless bacteria!).

Despite making this comment, I WILL say that Doug Skrecky has become
far more sophisticated now than several years ago about aging and what
might be needed to stop and reverse it. He may even come back after
this message with a statement of just how the metabolic path followed
by these fungi applies to us humans, too. That would be very good.

                Best wishes and long long life for all,

                     Thomas Donaldson

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