For the First Time, Researchers Find Longevity Gene That Helps Determine Lifespan - Polidicks

[QUOTE=Sparkwire;20117472]Honestly, do we really want to live to 120, when we will be so frail we can hardly do anything ourselves?[/QUOTE] I don't think that's quite how it works. While time is still progressing until you're chronologically 120 years old, you may be in your fifties in terms of biological age. If you can take care of your body, you may still be healthy.

[QUOTE=Sparkwire;20117472]Honestly, do we really want to live to 120, when we will be so frail we can hardly do anything ourselves?[/QUOTE] If we can control this gene, we can control aging, you could be in your 80's and have the body of your 20's.

Now all they need to do is to figure out how to turn it off.

Wait, this means we'll have real-life Edward Cullens running around... [IMG]http://planetnora.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/edward-cullen.jpg[/IMG] :psyduck:

Less glitter, though.

[QUOTE=Teal Moose;20117550]I don't think that's quite how it works. While time is still progressing until you're chronologically 120 years old, you may be in your fifties in terms of biological age. If you can take care of your body, you may still be healthy.[/QUOTE] Then again, why would we want to? Think of it, so many babies being born and only a quarter of that number would be dying. its like overpopulation x2

[QUOTE=Sparkwire;20118587]Then again, why would we want to? Think of it, so many babies being born and only a quarter of that number would be dying. its like overpopulation x2[/QUOTE] Only wealthy countries could afford this, and even then only the wealthy of the wealthy countries. [editline]11:14AM[/editline] People like to assume Genetic Modification is something you can just shove into a canister and administer to everyone on Earth almost immediately, you can't. If anything, Genetically Modified people will be reserved for a nations elite, and even then only if the nation has the medical infrastructure to actually do such an endeavor.

[QUOTE=Keeshond dog;20115343]Personally, i don't want to live to be old. I want to live as much as possible before i'm too old to enjoy it, which means that i'll probably be too unhealthy to live past 50 anyways.[/QUOTE] If you remain healthy, being 80 is still an age where you're healthy enough to enjoy stuff.

[QUOTE=Pretiacruento;20117923]Wait, this means we'll have real-life Edward Cullens running around... [IMG]http://planetnora.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/edward-cullen.jpg[/IMG] :psyduck:[/QUOTE] Necrophillia? No thanks.

[QUOTE=Dolton;20117958]Less glitter, though.[/QUOTE] Sparkles must be a side effect... Wait... That must mean that the Twilight vampires are actually advanced biologists!

Aw fuck...

Fuck you tortoise! I AM GOING TO LIVE LONGER THAN YOU!

[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;20118736]Only wealthy countries could afford this, and even then only the wealthy of the wealthy countries. [editline]11:14AM[/editline] People like to assume Genetic Modification is something you can just shove into a canister and administer to everyone on Earth almost immediately, you can't. If anything, Genetically Modified people will be reserved for a nations elite, and even then only if the nation has the medical infrastructure to actually do such an endeavor.[/QUOTE] Exactly. I'm thinking that you would have to get treatments for the rest of your life if you wanted to live longer. It wouldn't be "swallow a pill, live forever", it would probably be "go in for an expensive gene therapy treatment once every few years for as long as you want to be young." I think it would only become inexpensive when we have the science to implant nanomachines into the body that can regulate every biologic process and administer medical treatment from inside. That would be awesome :science:

So, what if these telomeres don't... shorten? D:

I'm VERY excited for this.. too bad some countries want to nuke other countries, thus making this discovery somewhat useless.

I would hate living forever. There is another life waiting for me there.

[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;20117524]This does stink heavily of Brave New World, and you know what, I think most FPers would welcome a Brave New World style... World with open arms. [editline]09:15AM[/editline] Hell, the world does seem to be approaching Huxley's beliefs on a "dystopia" much better then 1984.[/QUOTE] However the people at the bottom of brave new world do not really realize they are at the bottom. They are too stupid. People are genetically engineered to do their job, and enjoy life. Not that I agree with it, but I like it more than, say children of men or 1984.

Awesome.

To be honest, I'll be surprised if I make it to 60.

Fuck yeah gimme the pill!!!

[QUOTE=-TRASE-;20123346]I would hate living forever. There is another life waiting for me there.[/QUOTE] No there isn't.

I want to live until I want to die.

[QUOTE=Technopath;20122072]So, what if these telomeres don't... shorten? D:[/QUOTE] Isn't that what happens to those guys who look like kids and are in their 30's ?

I love science.

By the time this becomes usable I'll be 50 and it will be too late.

in our current society genetic engineering will only separate the classes more. We need to work on making this world a better place before working on how to spend more time in it.

[QUOTE=FlyingDog;20116665]I'm not sure I see the appeal of living forever/for a long time. We're already struggling with overpopulation as it is, can you imagine how thin our resources would be stretched if everyone got to live to 300+?[/QUOTE] We aren't really struggling. The way things naturally sort out, we'll have an amount of farmers proportionate to the total population, as we will also have a proportionate amount of bankers, hookers, and so on. And think of all the vast amounts of space we aren't using. The state of Montana (or North Dakota, I forget. In that area of the U.S.) only has a few more people than Rhode Island, and it's easily 5 times as big. Overpopulation isn't really a problem at present, even places like China have empty space.

The idea of living forever is scary

-snip-

[QUOTE=wonkadonk;20128050]The idea of living forever is scary[/QUOTE] Depends on the Immortality. I'd personally love biological immortality with sustained youthfulness (relative, as in looking and feeling 30 when I'm really 70.)