The prospect of extending human life expectancy to potentially eternal status has tantalized our species throughout recorded history. In the Web Links course tool on the left-hand side please find the video entitled VIDEO: Longevity Extension. The video features some of the recent breakthroughs in genetics, molecular and cellular biology, and bioengineering that are yet again igniting individual dreams of reaching a far more distant future than previously thought possible. I look forward to reading your responses to this often controversial topic.
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In the Web Links course tool on the left-hand side, please find the video entitled VIDEO: Longevity Extension. The video features some Show more…
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Life Expectancy Some scientists believe there is a limit to how long humans can live. One supporting argument is that during the past century, life expectancy from age 65 has increased more slowly than life expectancy from birth, so eventually these two will be equal, at which point, according to these scientists, life expectancy should increase no further. In 1900, life expectancy at birth was 46 yr, and life expectancy at age 65 was 76 yr. In 2008, these figures had risen to 78.1 and 83.8, respectively. In both cases, the increase in life expectancy has been linear. Using these assumptions and the data given, find the maximum life expectancy for humans. Source: Science.
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The aging process is thought to be initiated at the cellular level. Among the changes that can occur after a certain number of cell divisions is the loss of a cell's ability to respond to growth factors and other signals. Much research into aging is aimed at understanding such losses, with the ultimate goal of extending the human life span. Not everyone, however, agrees that this is a desirable goal. If life expectancy were greatly increased, what might be the social and ecological consequences?
Modern medical advances might mean people could live 200 years. In 2009, the life expectancy is about 80 years. Assume that, due to modern advances, life expectancy gains 5.5 years every decade. From 2009, in how many years would humanity achieve a life expectancy of 130 years? Humanity would achieve a life expectancy of 130 years in approximately nothing years. (Round up to the nearest year.)
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