Aging- Living Organisms - 1908 Words

Aging is a fundamental truth and an inevitable aspect of every living organism in the world. There are more than four hundred theories on ‘how’ and ‘why’ we age. None of them stands out as a single winner in explaining everything about ‘aging’ but in fact, they are all interconnected and together they explain the possible process of aging. This assignment attempts to explore the research based avenues which could possibly help Mickey live significantly longer than Minnie, based on the assumption that Mickey and Minnie inherit the same genetic programme but follow different life styles. Different authors and researchers define aging differently. Aging has been defined by Balducci(2007) as a loss of â€Å"entropy and fractality.† Loss of entropy implies a progressive reduction in an individual’s functional reserve, whereas loss of fractality implies a progressive reduction in the ability to coordinate different activity and negotiate the environment†. Yet another definition which would encapsulate the wider meaning of the term aging is â€Å"aging as a multifaceted phenomenon associated with decrements in cellular and physiological functions, increases in the incidence of numerous degenerative diseases and diminished capacity for responding to stress (Beckman and Ames, 1998). The theories on aging can broadly be classified as programmed and damage based. While the former argues that the complex process of aging is primarily pre-programmed by genes and not due to any random orShow MoreRelatedGreek Gods : Ancient Gods1379 Words   |  6 PagesWith such a strange set of beings, all five share one common trait—immortality. Though not in the spiritual sense, certain organisms, such as the ones listed above, have successfully acquired the evolutionary trait that prevents their bodies from dying of old age. For many years mankind has struggled in search of finding a path toward immortality. It is with these organisms today which has allowed researchers, and scientists alike, to glean from their cells. With recent advancements in technologyRead MoreThe Cradle And The Grave And How We Are Affected By Our Genes1397 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent things that can affect the way all living organisms live and die. In this paper, I will discuss the time that is between the cradle and the grave and how we are affected by our genes, free radicals, and everyday choices. The term â€Å"Aging† refers to in specific human beings, many animals, and fungi. Organisms such as bacteria, recurrent plants and some simple animals are theoretically immortal. Ageing can refer to single cells within an organism which have ceased dividing, also known asRead MoreIn Living Organisms, There Is A Common Process That Occurs,1748 Words   |  7 PagesIn living organisms, there is a common process that occurs, that is known as aging. Aging is process that begins the day that we are born and only ends on the day that die (Woodrow, 2002). It involves gradual physical and psychological changes to the human body and mind, in addition to societal changes. Throughout one’s lifespan, adaptation plays a pivotal role in aging, as many are challenged with limitations throughout. In society today, it is common to hear people say that they want to age Read MoreImmunological Theory of Aging Essay748 Words   |  3 Pageshinder their short lives, especially those to evade the aging process. With society becoming increasingly interested in everlasting beauty and living longer, the race to discover the main contributor toward aging begun in the early nineteen hundreds. In the midst of this quest, several biological theories had been developed. Among these theories is the immunity or immunological theory. This paper will discuss the immunological theory of aging by explaining the theory, giving a history of its originRead More Gaining Control of the Gene Responsible for Apoptosis Essay examples1141 Words   |  5 PagesGaining Control of the Gene Responsible for Apoptosis When we gain control of the gene responsible for the phenomenon of apoptosis, we will be in control of aging. We are finding more evidence every day, indicating genetic links to all sorts of factors in the human being. We are just now beginning to scratch the surface of our own genetics. A landmark discover has just been unveiled: In February [2001], the two groups charting the human genome published their results—the entire 3 billionRead MoreLouis Pasteur Essay1279 Words   |  6 Pagesthe plane of polarized light; with the information from his studies, he became convinced him that asymmetry was one of the fundamental characteristics of living matter, a vastly important contribution to the field of science in general. In addition to this, Stereochemistry allows us to know how a certain molecule will interact with an organism; anti-nausea medications in the 1950’s that created devastating birth defects with â€Å"flipper-like† appendages is just one example of the consequences of notRead MoreTaking a Look at DNA Supercoiling684 Words   |  3 Pagesover-winding or under-winding of a DNA strand. In general, most organisms’ DNA is negatively supercoiled. There are two types of supercoiling: positive and negative. Positive supercoiling means that the DNA strands are twisted in the right direction; whereas negative supercoiling means that the DNA strands are twisted in the left direction. The laws of Physics govern everything that happens in the world, including DNA coiling in living beings. Some of the concepts in Physics that are involved in DNARead MoreGmo : Genetically Modified Organisms876 Words   |  4 Pagesbecause GMO’s are bad. GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms) are being created in order to help make these companies do that exact, along with a few other things. GMO’s are plants or animals that have undergone a process wherein scientists alter their genes with DNA from different species of livin g organisms, bacteria, or viruses to get desired traits such as resistance to disease or tolerance of pesticides. Although genetically modified organisms produce greater yields of what is needed/wanted, itRead MoreThe Problems of Aging on Elderly1197 Words   |  5 Pagesbeings ageing refers to physical and mental changes with respect to time. As the time passes a person grows old and his physical body becomes weak but his mentality has increased due to experiences.In scientific language senescenceis the term used for aging process. It is measured by the person’s date of birth which comes once in a year. The process of ageing is so interesting because it starts by your birth when you open your eyes for the first time in this world and then stops by your death. AgeingRead MoreGenetic Engineering : Medical Perfection Or Playing God1280 Words   |  6 PagesThesis Statement â€Å"Genetic engineering differs from cloning in key ways. Whereas cloning produces genetically exact copies of organisms, genetic engineering refers to processes in which scientists manipulate genes to create purposefully different versions of organisms—and, in some cases, entirely new living things†, duplication of genetic cells is known as human cloning. Development of genetic engineering biotechnologies undermines the natural autonomy of life. Does genetic engineering interfere