The litany of myths, legends and Hollywood movies involving arcane elixirs or mysterious fountains of immortality are a testament to mankinds perpetual fascination with prolonged life. However, over the weekend, Jim Mellon the British entrepreneur and investor revealed that he is sanguine about the emergence of a fast-growing longevity sector.
In 1900, the world average life expectancy was 31, and has since more than doubled to around 72. However, these figures should not be overstated; in 1900, no more than in 2017, 31 was no considered old. Instead, dramatic reductions in infant mortality and immunisation against particularly devastating diseases have meant that, on average, people live longer. It is fallacious to argue that the maximum attainable age has significantly increased, let alone doubled. Advances in medicine have, quite simply, reduced ones chances of dying before reaching old age.
Nevertheless, as a consequence of being able to effectively treat illnesses that cause premature death, humanity is left largely to tackle diseases that disproportionately afflict the elderly: cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. Though an outright cure has not yet been developed, great strides have even been made in HIV/AIDS treatment, meaning it is no longer the death sentence of years gone by.
Merely eradicating all fatal diseases would, however, leave humans living prolonged lives in frail, withering bodies hardly the stuff of myth and legend. Accordingly, the would-be longevity sector aims not to eradicate the aforementioned diseases, but instead implement changes to the human body at the cellular level.
As usual, it is Silicon Valley that is paving the way in cellular longevity research. Among the various scientists and venture capitalists seeking to advance the maximum human lifespan is 22-year-old Laura Deming, who believes the longevity could be a two-hundred-billion-dollar-plus market.
Born in New Zealand, Deming joined Professor Cynthia Kenyons lab at the University of California, San Francisco aged just 12, where she assisted in successfully extending the lifespan of a worm by a factor of ten. In 2011, Deming accepted the $100,000 Thiel Fellowship and dropped out of MIT in order to devote her polymathic abilities towards setting up her own immortality-focused venture capital fund, which she aptly named The Longevity Fund.
Today, Deming and others are fervent in the belief that human biological immortality is around the proverbial corner. As distinct from the traditional concept of immortality infinite life biological immortality is when the chances of an organism dying donot increase with its age. Indeed, some organisms such as the hydra are widely believed to be biologically immortal because they do not senesce their cells do not stop dividing as they age.
It is not only Silicon Valley that is chasing immortality but researchers in Oxford are also working on revealing the atomic structure of individual cells so that the causes of cellular senescence can be accurately pinpointed.
Laymen will, naturally, seek to discredit the possibility of human immortality ever transcending fiction and becoming a reality. However, as there always is in science, an enormous gulf exists between what the layman is even vaguely aware of, and what is being developed and discovered in various laboratories around the world.
Perhaps along with the Internet of things, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, widespread use of renewable power, and the seemingly endless list of other rapidly-advancing technologies human longevity will also play a part in defining tomorrows world.
Read the original here:
The Longevity Sector: Finding The Fountain Of Youth - The Market Mogul
- Managing the ageing process [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Natures Elements Releases New Product: Reishi Mushroom - This Chinese Longevity Mushroom Has Miraculous Health Benefits [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2012]
- Dance conference [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2012]
- Immortal moment for Sonya [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2012]
- Read in [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2012]
- An artificially intelligent future: Ray Kurzweil on engineering the brain [Last Updated On: November 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 28th, 2012]
- OpenWorm brings simulated life one step closer with ‘real’ digital muscles [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Tozer Devotional - The Alliance: Living the Call Together [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- The Eucharist: What Do Catholics Believe? [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Elixir of life - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Immortality - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- The Immortal Life « Rebecca Skloot [Last Updated On: December 21st, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 21st, 2013]
- Could humans attain immortality? - Curiosity [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - Book ... [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- Alex Chiu Eternal Life Immortality Device [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- Jiaogulan - gynostemma pentaphyllum - China's "Immortality ... [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2013]
- FSU will go down as one of the all-time great teams [Last Updated On: January 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 8th, 2014]
- Sermons and Papers [Last Updated On: January 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2014]
- Twin fiestas mirror Filipinos’ duality of spirit [Last Updated On: January 19th, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 19th, 2014]
- Medicine of Immortality [Last Updated On: January 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: January 21st, 2014]
- Hockey great Bobby Orr presents his new book in Vero Beach [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2014]
- RIP Jade Rabbit: China's lunar rover officially dead [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2014]
- Catholic Social Doctrine Can Help Rescue Aging Societies [Last Updated On: February 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 27th, 2014]
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Science NetLinks [Last Updated On: March 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 13th, 2014]
- Community HealthNet offers comprehensive healthcare for all [Last Updated On: March 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 16th, 2014]
- REVIEW The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story, By Vivek J. Tiwary And Brian C. Robinson [Last Updated On: March 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 22nd, 2014]
- Wallace Baine, Baine Street: Why the silence on science? [Last Updated On: March 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 24th, 2014]
- Why Freezing Yourself Is a Terrible Way to Achieve Immortality [Last Updated On: April 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 2nd, 2014]
- Gene therapy successfully regenerates an old organ inside a living animal [Last Updated On: April 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 10th, 2014]
- Grief-stricken memorialize loved ones on 'R.I.P. T-shirts' [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2014]
- Doctors Can Now Grow Engineered Vaginas in Women [Last Updated On: April 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 11th, 2014]
- Celldex's Phase 1 study of CDX-1401 published in Science Translational Medicine [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2014]
- Researchers Link Aging to Cellular Interactions That Occur Across Generations [Last Updated On: April 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 25th, 2014]
- UNC researchers link aging to cellular interactions that occur across generations [Last Updated On: April 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 25th, 2014]
- Aging linked to cellular interactions that occur across generations [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2014]
- Sir Roger Bannister has Parkinson's Disease [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2014]
- Do Not Miss the Secrets to Longevity, Healing & Immortality with Soul Miracle Healer Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha at ... [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2014]
- New, young blood can reverse some signs of aging, improve cognitive abilities [Last Updated On: May 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 5th, 2014]
- Sixty years on from the day Sir Roger changed athletics [Last Updated On: May 6th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2014]
- University Medal runners-up find turning point at Berkeley [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2014]
- How a Rare Medical Condition Could Help Extend All of Our Lives [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2014]
- The Eternal Problem Silicon Valley Can't Solve [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2014]
- Americas highest-paid female CEO was born a man [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2014]
- Harry Potter Magic at the Eccles Library [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2014]
- Brain Trust: 15th Annual IdeaFestival Blossoms, Branches Out [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2014]
- The Essence of Senescence [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2014]
- The $1 Million Race For The Cure To End Aging [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2014]
- Hedge fund offers $1M to cure aging [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2014]
- Derrick Rose's Long Journey Back to Superstardom Is Only Just Beginning [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2014]
- 7 Most Audacious Medtech Predictions [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2014]
- What's up, docs? [Last Updated On: September 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 21st, 2014]
- Forever creator previews the newest show about immortality [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2014]
- Penn Researchers Explain How Ends of Chromosomes are Maintained for Cancer Cell Immortality [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2014]
- Show mixes mystery and medicine [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2014]
- How the Ends of Chromosomes Are Maintained for Cancer Cell Immortality [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2014]
- Unraveling the Universe: Griffins Tower [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2014]
- 8 superfoods that arent all that super [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2014]
- 'The Strain' News: Season 1 Finale Recap, Show Renewed for Second Season [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2014]
- Author Rebecca Skloot to Present Free Public Lecture at UCR as Part of Immortality Project Lecture Series [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2014]
- Eskind Biomedical Library highlights world of Harry Potter [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2014]
- Ali Regained Title in Historic Fight 40 Years Ago [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2014]
- 'Rumble in the Jungle' Turns 40 [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2014]
- Death: Only Lazarus can refute [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2014]
- November 2014 [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2014]
- Here Are All the Movies Opening Today, November 7. What Will You See? [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2014]
- Brittany Maynard forced us to confront death [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2014]
- How Brittany Maynard made us look at death [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2014]
- Modern medicine unwraps ancient mysteries around 2,000-year-old child mummy [Last Updated On: November 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 15th, 2014]
- Revealed: Modern medicine unwraps ancient mysteries of Bolton's 2,000-year-old child mummy [Last Updated On: November 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 15th, 2014]
- EDEL: In a galaxy far far away [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2014]
- The Immortal Medication - Genetics Medicine [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2014]
- Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha, Creator of Soul Healing Miracles, Invites Public to Q & A Online Seminar About New Book ... [Last Updated On: November 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 22nd, 2014]
- I dont want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying. Woody Allen [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2014]
- Part 2: Mushrooms for health and wealth [Last Updated On: November 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 26th, 2014]
- What should doctors do when the drugs wont work? Often its easier to push one more treatment than to acknowledge ... [Last Updated On: November 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 27th, 2014]
- CRUCIBLE: Hilot and Wellbeing (1) Julkipli Wadi [Last Updated On: November 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 30th, 2014]
- VP Gems: Medicine For Finals [Last Updated On: December 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 12th, 2014]
- The Vampire Preservation Society Stands Out From The Pack As A Distinctive Narrative Of Brotherhood, Compassion, And ... [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2014]
- Dying we live [1995] [Last Updated On: December 18th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 18th, 2014]
- The final chapter on the festive season [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2014]