 |
| Dr. Aubrey de Grey is considered both insane and a genius in the scientific community. |
Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence, (SENS) is Dr. David de Grey's forward thinking theory of the aging process. Dr. de Grey is a biogerontologist studying the biological effects of aging on life forms. SENS is Bioengineering at the cellular level involving stem cells and gene therapy to explain how the body cannot just live longer but stay young. His aggressive theories on aging are shaking up the scientific community. He thinks aging research is moving far too slowly.
The Revolutionary Cambridge Meeting
In 2005, Dr. de Grey invited leading scientists from all over the world to Cambridge University discusses his revolutionary ideas on biology and aging. His goal was to bring together researchers of very different fields who normally don't talk to each other because they are work is so specialized. Molecular biologist, geneticists, stem cell cloning and gene therapy experts and bioengineers all came together in one forum to discuss bringing the SENS model into reality.
The Seven Point Plan
SENS involves systematically replacing defective or worn out parts of the body of the genetic and cellular level. The program hinges around a seven-point plan.
(1) Cell atrophy: cells that die off and are not naturally replaced such as those in the brain and the heart can be replaced manually to continue the function in maintaining the tissues of the heart and brain. Eliminating cell atrophy is the basis of stem cell research.
(2) Proliferation of unwanted cells: this refers to the fat cells that replace muscle and lead to diabetes. SENS suggest genetic modification of these types of cells could trigger them to attack themselves rather than the muscle tissue. Research in this field of genetics is controversial in its own right.
(3) Protein cross-links: formation of links between certain proteins that are the resulting loss of elasticity in tissues like artery walls that causes high blood pressure. Researchers are developing drugs that react with these links and break them.
(4) Accumulation of waste byproducts outside the cells: cellular garbage that that builds up outside the cells such as annelids in the brain that causes Alzheimer's.
(5) Accumulation of waste byproducts inside the cells: causes problems like hardening of the arteries and heart disease. Researchers are looking at designing genes and enzymes they can digest theseintra-cellular waste products.
(6) Mitochondrial mutations: aging damages the mitochondria that produces energy for the sales activities. Geneticists are looking at ways to adjust the mitochondrial DNA to fortify it from such mutations that occur during the aging process.
(7) Chromosomal mutations: runaway cell division such as cancer in theory can also be eradicated by making adjustments in the chromosomal DNA to fortify it from mutations.
The Issue of Ethics
Each of the seven points of the SENS program is not just highly controversial. Most of them are illegal in most of the countries of the world.
During the latter part of World War II, all the great physicists and engineers were brought together for one historical meeting to discuss the possibility of the atomic bomb. They pondered their moral responsibility and the implications the creation of such a destructive device would have on mankind. And they chose to create the device. Ironically, all the great thinkers came together at Cambridge University to discuss the possibility of vastly improving the functioning and health of the human body. But unfortunately, unlike the nuclear bomb, the research involved is too radical to be considered ethical by the nations of the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment