what is up with humans and longevity…...

One such discovery concerns the DNA in cells necessary for repair and gene expression. First discovered in fungus and now in mice it is as we age the ability to regulate which genes are expressed and which turned off begins to fail. The cause isn’t the DNA damage which happens throughout life, it is the ability to repair and regulate the second to second operation of gene expression that is of import. It is believed the damage is reversible.

Focusing on a group of genes called “sirtiuns” that are involved in the aging process. Sirtiuns respond to DNA damage to repair it but appeared to become overwhelmed during the aging process. And when the DNA damage accumulates the sirtiuns are overwhelmed and fail in their function to regulate gene activity properly.

However if resveratrol (from wine) or a restricted calorie intake, sirtiuns appear to function better. In the experiment, the scientists either gave extra copies of the gene sirtiuns or quantities of resveratrol to mice (that were genetically altered to develop lymphoma). It extended their life span by 24% to 46%.

“We see here, through a proof-of-principal demonstration, that elements of aging can be reversed,” said Philipp Oberdoerffer, one of the researchers. [From the Los Angeles Times article of Saturday, November 29, 2008.]

By all means let’s devote zillions of dollars and an untold number of brilliant minds and years of scientific research to increasing the quantity of life rather than giving a rat’s ass about improving the quality of life.