Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Can a blood test really tell you when you'll die?

Interesting article in The Guardian newspaper in the UK about using telomeres, found in the cells of our bodies, could be used to predict the aging process within our own bodies. Here are some select experts from the article that I found interesting:

To start with, telomeres are "the protective caps ... on the ends of my chromosomes". Many scientists believe that aging occurs when the telomeres are shorten. I am not yet convinced this is true as the science is still inconclusive on this.

"a New York Times interview with 2009 Nobel prize-winner Carol Greider ... "The science really isn't there to tell us what the consequences are of your telomere length," she said.

Science has however been testing the effects of shortening and lengthening in telomeres on mice cells.

"the idea that telomeres can be "re-elongated" and, hence, that biological age can be reversed does not open the door to immortality – even if scientists have been able to extend a mouse's age by up to 40%. "That's a lot, but nobody has been able to make a mouse that is immortal,""

I would love to see testing on how our thoughts, and our "programming" have any effects on our telomere lengths.

1 comment:

Janni Lloyd said...

Hi Ben,
Felt you may be interested to hear this interview I did when I visited the US a while ago. I speak of the spirit / mind / body connection and the paradigm shift.
Dr Janni Lloyd - Healthy Life Extension / Physical Immortality - the mass possibility
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4LgwkKCCWE

blessings Janni