Life Extension: Unnatural?

[Coder]

Hi,

There are people today who think that with trends in technology and medicine (perhaps related to cells and genetics) that aging could be controlled etc. and humans could live quite long (hundreds maybe thousands of years?).

Ironically, could this be something to avoid? After all, our home is in heaven and we are pilgrims. Suppose such a technology existed, would we be required morally to extend our lives this way since we are morally obligated to protect and preserve life? Please don’t misunderstand me. I think it’s wonderful for people to live long lives but after a thousand years (or maybe even a hundred and fifty) would it not be normal for a person to long to see the Lord?

 

[popcorn22]

Scientists and doctors can do whatever they want. What it comes down to is that God is going to take us when he wants us - regardless of how old we are or what we are doing. Only God knows when that time is going to be.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I recall reading someplace a couple of years ago that the ordinary, non-reproductive, cells of our body have a counter on them. They quit after a certain number of divisions, which puts an upper limit on life.

I haven’t followed up on how this works out with clones. There was some speculation that a clone inherited the age of its source; so had the same use by date.

I haven’t checked any of this; so can’t separate discovery from speculation from wishful thinking.

 

[Coder]

Hi, the question is whether mankind should pursue this medical technology.

 

[Just_Lurking]

I recall reading someplace a couple of years ago that the ordinary, non-reproductive, cells of our body have a counter on them. They quit after a certain number of divisions, which puts an upper limit on life.

Cancer results from two mutations in a cell’s DNA - one is to make the cell replicate continuously instead of at a normal pace, and the other is to disable this cell counter.

There was a woman born without a counter in any of her cells. As expected, she died of cancer in her middle age (40’s?), because her cells only required one mutation for her to get cancer.

The HPV viruses that Gardasil fights against also disable the cell counter, which is why they too are associated with cervical cancer.

 

[edwest2]

The ‘counter’ is called a telomere.

Yes, this would be unnatural but it is not impossible for a human being to live beyond 100 years. Much longer than that may involve psychological issues that may be bad, but, at present, there is no way of knowing anything definite.

There would be no moral or theological problem with living for 300 or 500 years. A person with such life experience would be a help to his fellow human beings and, if physically able, could learn many important things. I’m sure God would use such a long-lived person. He has in the past.

Peace,
Ed