World
The search for eternal life has aroused the curiosity of many thinkers and scholars over the centuries, but, apparently, there is still no solution on the horizon. However, molecular biologist Venki Ramakrishnan believes this would not be the best idea. Why?
Taiyou Nomachi
Molecular biologist Venki Ramakrishnan, who has on his CV the Nobel Prize in Chemistrypublished a new book titled “Why we die: the new science of aging and the search for immortality”where he addresses the science and ethics of human life extension. In an interview with ABC Newsthe British researcher, with Indian roots, explains that living far beyond what we currently consider normal may not be a brilliant idea.
In the British media, Ramakrishnan clarifies that a hypothetical society where people live for hundreds of years could be synonymous with a stagnant society.
“It would be the same group of people living longer and longer. There would be no rotation between generations. Maybe new ideas, things like that. But I think that is still in the domain of science fiction”, he says.
Therefore, it clarifies that the attention of science, these days, is focused on finding a healthy way of life and not on extending human life for many more years.
But why does biological age not always correspond to chronological age? In response to this question, the biologist says that aging should be seen as “an accumulation of damage over time”. These damages are repaired by our body through “recycling mechanisms”.
“The rate at which they degrade is different depending on the person”, he adds.
But the truth is that there are people who age faster than others. The expert notes that there are several aging markers that explain these differences, despite, of course, risk factors, such as smoking or drinking alcohol.
Blood markers can influence lifespan
It goes on to say that the Human DNA acquires, over the years, epigenetic markswhich changes the “pattern with which we express different genes” and, consequently, “changes the way our biology works”.
In addition to this factor, there are also blood markers that indicate some people age faster than others. It informs that studies already carried out in this regard suggest the existence of such factors, which delay or accelerate aging.
Regarding the future of human life, Venki Ramakrishnan is confident. But to do so, he emphasizes, it is necessary to “attack the underlying causes of aging” so that we can “live a longer and healthier life.”
And if we eliminated some of the main causes of mortality, how many more years would we live? The researcher believes that average life expectancy would only increase by around 15 years.
