Immortality Is A Myth Essay

Superior Essays
Register to read the introduction… When I asked S. Jay Olshansky, the professor of epidemiology at University of Illinois his opinion about technological advances and immortality, he said that “it’s easy to extend a person’s lifespan” but “immortality is not going to happen.” In the 1500s, the life expectancy was only thirty to forty years of age (Moody). Now it is in the eighties. The lifespan of a person is based on technology and not a magical pill. As time passes, the average lifespan of a person will grow because new discoveries will be made. Immortality though is just a myth. The recent scientific developments in the past years have brought up a few possibilities though. One of the promising ways is to try to use the enzyme telomerase to conquer the limit of somatic cell divisions to help slow down cell senescence (Lucke, and Hall). In 1961, Leonard Hayflick and Paul Moorhead discovered that cells made of developing tissues can only undergo mitosis, the division of cells, a limited amount of times (Magalhaes). Once they reach the point where they are no longer capable of dividing anymore yet still remain active, they begin to take on ageing effects (Kahn). For example, it takes on changes like the smooth skin of a baby to the wrinkly skin of an elder. These are called senescent cells. On the contrary, cancer cells can divide infinitely (Kent). The scientists who work for Geron Corporation made a major breakthrough in 1994 by finding out the functions of telomerase enzymes. This telomerase enzyme could be the secret key to unlocking immortality. This enzyme is found on the ends of chromosomes and appears to stop cellular aging by enabling cell division to continue indefinitely in cancer cells (Kent). The next step with this discovery is to take this concept and put it into normal cells. However, Judy Campisi, who has a PhD in biochemistry, said it “would be foolish to attempt to …show more content…
"Gene Expression Profile of Aging and It's Retardation by Caloric Restrictions." sciencemag. N.p., 17 Aug 2007. Web. 4 Dec 2011. <http://ageloctime.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/AgeLoc_Science1999.pdf>.

Gavrilov, Leonid. "Life Extension, Caloric Restriction, and Scientific Philanthropy." The Science Advisory Board. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec 2011. <http://www.scienceboard.net/community/perspectives.144.html>.

. "Aurora and Tithonus." Greece Greek. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec 2011. <http://www.greecegreek.com/Mythology/aurora-tithonus.html>.

. "The Legend of Tithonus and Eos." Florida Gardener . N.p., 3 Aug 2008. Web. 4 Dec 2011. <http://floridagardener.com/pom/tithonusandeos.htm>.

. "Becoming An Immortal Human Could Have A Downside." ImmortalHumans. N.p., 4 Feb 2010. Web. 4 Dec 2011. <http://www.immortalhumans.com/becoming-an-immortal-human-could-have-a-downside/>.

Lucke, Jayne, and Wayne Hall. "Who wants to live forever?." EMBO Reports. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec 2011. <http://www.nature.com/embor/journal/v6/n2/full/7400339.html>.

Kahn, Jeffery. "Unlocking the Secrets of Cell Senescence." . N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec 2011.

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    According to writer Ewa Bartnik in her article titled Imminent Immortality? (2000) she believes that while to some the idea of immortality seems attractive, she does not believe it is possible even with recent advances in science and medicine. Everyone including Ewa Bartnik thought immortality was impossible, until…

    • 1411 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A majority of people in America will not live to be 100 years old and the odds of longevity are very slim, but it is still possible. He explains that if Americans were to eat healthier and greener, we will achieve longevity.…

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ganli Demyttenaere PHL. 101 PEQ Artifact John Martin Fischer: Why Immortality Is Not So Bad. John Martin Fischer believes that contrary to Bernard Williams the life of immortality would not be so bad if two conditions were met. One of those conditions is that the person is identical to the individual and second the person’s life must be attractive to them. Personally, I disagree with the first condition and while I agree with the second condition I don’t think it is necessary for an immortal life to be good, still I completely disagree with Bernard Williams.…

    • 701 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The scientific definition of aging is the deterioration over time resulting in physiological changes. Many evolutionary biologists believe that aging has nothing to do with genetics (Arking). Once, an animal serves its purpose it is able to die off. The purpose being to produce and raise offspring (Gilbert). This happens with many organisms like moths and salmon.…

    • 900 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “What would it mean if we would never die?” was a question asked by Natalie Babbitt. In Tuck Everlasting she answers this question through three of the main characters Angus (Tuck), Mae and Miles. All of these characters are sad and miserable knowing that they will not be able to die like everybody else.…

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Wouldn’t you like to never age, never get injured, and live forever? I wouldn’t. The Tucks from Tuck Everlasting had this dilemma when they found out that the spring had given them immortality. They had to chose to keep it secret or to let others know about it. I think the Tucks made the right decision to keep it secret because evolution will turn them into freaks, they are forced away from society, and life becomes pointless to them.…

    • 526 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Benjamin Franklin once said that there were two things on which you could be certain: death and taxes. I would add one more to the wise Mr. Franklin's list: change. Since the beginning of recorded history, societies have experienced change. Change at one time was slow and gradual, like the carving of rock with water.…

    • 969 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Over time, the communication between the mitochondria and the cell nucleus will degrade, which leads to the aging process. Researchers and scientists injects a chemical called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD, this is a coenzyme form of the vitamin niacin, it reduces in the body as we age. The insertion of this chemical, or compound, led to the radical reversal in the aging of the test subject mouses. This “magic pill” that reverses aging will most likely to still be a several years away, due to the fact that the cost of the compound, which would cost around…

    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In “Why Immortality Is Not So Bad,” Fisher argues that immortality need not to be as bad as William says it would be and is inadequate. He argues that if an immortal life would be characterized by different experiences, there is no reason one to become bored with life. Although william argues that immortality would be as bad, he uses an example to prove it of a woman named EM who is immortal, for drinking a certain potion, and gets bored with life. In the end, she refuses to continue drinking it, because life has become a dull a state of boredom, indifference, and coldness. Williams claims that any kind of eternal life would end up being like this at the in the end,which is boring, meaningless, and undesirable.…

    • 811 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Fruit is high in antioxidants, and it’s cleansing, but it’s also high in sugar, and sugar is cancer’s staple. Cancer cells are junkies that scarf up all available sugar to support their glucose-dependent anaerobic requirements. Do not eat sweets, including honey and other natural sweeteners while you’re starving your cancer. Use xylitol as a healthy, natural sweetener with no nasty after taste.…

    • 656 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Why would someone want to live forever? Bernard Williams, a philosopher and an author wrote the essay titled “The Makropulos Case: Reflection on the Tedium of Immortality”. In his essay he discusses how death is not necessarily evil, like some people think. In order to structure his argument, he includes both Epicurus’ and Lucretuis point of view that humans overthink the state of being dead. He agrees with both philosophers that being dead isn’t bad, but Williams believes that Lucretuis is somewhat contradicting himself because Lucretuis cares about experience, but is saying that living a shorter life is better than living a longer life when it should be the other way around.…

    • 1959 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    It is inevitable that every day, month, and year the body are gets older and very slowly deuterated throughout a person’s lifetime. Some people may have some complications early on in life, but most of the population start to develop issues with their health later in life. This then bring up a question: Are people having more problems later in life because of the choices and decisions they have made previous in life? There are many different methods a person can slowly or rapidly shave off years of their lives, yet other methods that would do the opposite. Some would say that the life expectancy or longevity (the number of years an individual actually lives.…

    • 1900 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the Introduction to the course textbook, the author suggests that “Erikson’s life-cycle model seemed like a contemporary version of Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress.” The allegory The Pilgrim’s Progress is essentially a story about a spiritual journey through life, ending with eternity spent in the Celestial City, a.k.a. “Heaven.”…

    • 704 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Wrinkles. Gray hair. Memory hiccups. All “symptoms” of becoming wise, and old. Aging is often referred to as a disease.…

    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Transhumanism Essay

    • 2043 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Considering the techs available today, ways to stop aging might be achieved sooner than expected. As we cure illnesses, we just might discover how to stop aging. If achieved, would it be justifiable to proceed with it knowing the repercussions? For example, a population crises, and inequality as some will exploit it, and others won 't. Aging and death are natural outcomes for every life form. We can try to delay it all we can but at the end, nature will take its course.…

    • 2043 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays

Related Topics