Who wants to live Forever?

If you ever had thoughts about living forever, or at least up to 1000 years, then all you need is to wait another 25 years, so say scientists. Yup, apparently scientists are on track to finding the cure for aging.

This Sci-Fi sounding dream could possibly be accomplished by modifying our genomes to include genetic material that would enable us to break down the junk proteins that our cells amass over time and which they can’t digest on their own. These junk proteins or toxins are the basis as to what causes aging. Other targets to achieve immortality include replacing cells that are lost, stopping cells that multiply as in cancer, preventing mutations in chromosomes and mitochondria, the cells’ power plants, and, getting rid of “extracellular protein crosslinks” which cause hardening of the arteries. Once all of these are achieved, humans could live forever, barring accidents of course.

The problem here is again a moral - Would you want to live forever? Would you still be human if you live forever? The second question is especially perplexing. Humans are, by definition, mortals - i.e. we will die one day. So, if you become immortal, what are you?

As for the whether you'd want to live forever, well, its up to you (provided our beloved gahment doesn't make it compulsory). Personally, I really wonder whether I would want to live so long. The thought of working my a*s off for the next 40+ years is already daunting enough. Can you visualise having to work for the next 400 years? I know I wouldn't want that. But the idea of it is tempting. Imagine being able to see all the scientific discoveries (space travel, life on Mars, time travel even) and all the cultural changes (a world government?). In any case, we'll all have at least 25 years to ponder.

Time may indeed be on your side. If you can just last another quarter century.

By then, people will start lives that could last 1,000 years or more. Our human genomes will be modified to include the genetic material of microorganisms that live in the soil, enabling us to break down the junk proteins that our cells amass over time and which they can’t digest on their own. People will have the option of looking and feeling the way they did at 20 for the rest of their lives, or opt for an older look if they get bored. Of course, everyone will be required to go in for age rejuvenation therapy once every decade or so, but that will be a small price to pay for near-immortality.

This may sound like science fiction, but Aubrey de Grey thinks this could be our reality in as little as 25 years. Other scientists caution that it is far from clear whether and for how long science can stall the inevitable.

Click here for the full article and here for another similar, but more interesting article.