Current Event #2
Biologists Slow the Aging Process in Fruit Flies: Study has Implications for Humans
Summary:
Scientists discovered a new gene (and found a way to manipulate it), called PGC-1. It’s so incredible because it makes the mitochondria in our body more active. Mitochondria is in charge of supplying energy for all of our cellular functions, and if the mitochondria die, so do the rest of our cells basically.
The biologists put PGC-1 into the intestines of fruit flies, and discovered it increased their life span by 50%, but the gene is not yet manipulable or stable enough for humans yet. Since aging is the #1 cause of most diseases, if we slow/stop aging, people would rarely get sick anymore.
Why it interested me:
For a long time, I’ve been studying Aubry De Grey’s work. Aubry is a scientist who specializes in aging, and he wrote an entire book (that I’ve read) about what causes aging and how to prevent and stop it. I’m in love with everything that has to do with that, and finding yet another way to slow aging makes me incredibly excited, because with all these new discoveries, we’re not far from actually stopping aging.