Researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of the Yeshiva University in New York have successfully slowed down the rate of aging in mice as part of their experiments. Have they found the 'fountain of aging"? And if the key to aging is eventually found what would its ramifications be?
The researchers claim that the hypothalamus - a small region of the brain that plays a fundamental role in growth, development, reproduction and metabolism - holds the key to slowing down the rate of aging throughout the body. By manipulating the levels of the molecule known as NF-kB(nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) within the hypothalamus, they're able to achieve success in increasing the longevity in mice.
Let's assume that this process, in all likelihood, is extended to cover human beings too in the long run as predicted by the article covering the developments. The resulting humanitarian issues are gonna be of alarming proportions and let me try to list them out:-
(a) the population would be bursting by the seams.
(b) the natural resources needed to sustain the bludgeoning population would be under severe constraints.
(c) the mismatch of ideologies and the ways of thinking of various generations trying to live together.
(d) the difficulty in keeping everyone occupied and contributing to society.
(e) who decides as to when one should end one's life? Left to individuals almost everyone would like to
live on.....
(f) and finally, where does that leave God in the 'new' scheme of things? He'd be left jobless and become
insignificant, perhaps?
My take.
The question that comes to my mind is as to how long would one like to live in this world? Isn't the present lifespan of a human being more than adequate? And the decision to die must never be handed over to mankind - he'll botch it up as he would never ever be able to take a rational one.
Remember, "Men fear death as children fear darkness".
Tailpiece.
I'd begun the day reciting the 'Vishnu Sahasranaama sthothram', around 4 o'clock in the morning at the departure lounge, awaiting my return flight.
If longevity of life is achieved, then praying can be conveniently given the go by as one would have usurped the role of God - an altogether new dimension to life, as death wouldn't mean a thing any more. Wow!
But I would dread that proposition!!
The researchers claim that the hypothalamus - a small region of the brain that plays a fundamental role in growth, development, reproduction and metabolism - holds the key to slowing down the rate of aging throughout the body. By manipulating the levels of the molecule known as NF-kB(nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) within the hypothalamus, they're able to achieve success in increasing the longevity in mice.
Let's assume that this process, in all likelihood, is extended to cover human beings too in the long run as predicted by the article covering the developments. The resulting humanitarian issues are gonna be of alarming proportions and let me try to list them out:-
(a) the population would be bursting by the seams.
(b) the natural resources needed to sustain the bludgeoning population would be under severe constraints.
(c) the mismatch of ideologies and the ways of thinking of various generations trying to live together.
(d) the difficulty in keeping everyone occupied and contributing to society.
(e) who decides as to when one should end one's life? Left to individuals almost everyone would like to
live on.....
(f) and finally, where does that leave God in the 'new' scheme of things? He'd be left jobless and become
insignificant, perhaps?
My take.
The question that comes to my mind is as to how long would one like to live in this world? Isn't the present lifespan of a human being more than adequate? And the decision to die must never be handed over to mankind - he'll botch it up as he would never ever be able to take a rational one.
Remember, "Men fear death as children fear darkness".
Tailpiece.
I'd begun the day reciting the 'Vishnu Sahasranaama sthothram', around 4 o'clock in the morning at the departure lounge, awaiting my return flight.
If longevity of life is achieved, then praying can be conveniently given the go by as one would have usurped the role of God - an altogether new dimension to life, as death wouldn't mean a thing any more. Wow!
But I would dread that proposition!!
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