The Telomerase Enzyme and Immortality

Description: Professor Robert Weinberg explains how normal cells can
only double a certain limited number of times; and cancer cells
have to learn how to proliferate indefinitely, i.e, they have to
become immortalized.
Transcript: Cells have a lifespan. The age of a cell and its ability to
divide is related to structures – telomeres – found at the
ends of chromosomes. Robert Weinberg, Ph.D.,
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research: "Normal
cells can only double a certain limited finite number of times;
cancer cells have to learn how to proliferate indefinitely, that
i.e, they have to become immortalized. The machinery for
controlling how often a cell may grow and divide, how many
generations a lineage of cells may pass through, is carried in
the telomeric DNAs at the ends of chromosomes. The
telomeres are specialized sequences at the ends of each
chromosome and they operate to prevent end-to-end fusion of
chromosomes. These telomeres protect the ends of
chromosomal DNA from such accidents. And as was
learned in a number of laboratories, when normal cells go
through cycles of growth and division their telomeric DNA
gets shorter and shorter and shorter and ultimately so short
it can no longer protect the ends of chromosomal DNA.
Telomeres start fusing. Chromosomes start fusing in those
cells, and those cells die. Cancer cells must avoid that
problem because they want to grow indefinitely, and what do
they do? They turn on an enzyme called telomerase that is
normally expressed only early in embryologic development
and in a small number of so-called stem cells in the body.
The telomerase enzyme is able to extend the telomeres,
making them longer and longer thereby enabling the cancer cell
to go through many, many cycles of growth and division
without worrying about the imminent collapse of its telomeres.
The telomerase ensures the telomeres stay very long." In
2000, Douglas Hanahan (shown below) and Robert
Weinberg published a paper in Cell, "The Hallmarks of
Cancer," which identified some organizing principles of cancer
cell development. "The nature of the replication machinery is
that chromosomes get smaller every time they divide. And we
now appreciate that specialized cells in the body have a way to
counteract this telomere shorting and that's using several
strategies of which the most prominent is an enzyme known as
telomerase that protects the ends of chromosomes from this
erosion."
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Immortality

I sometimes ponder over the possiblity of human immortality. Yes, I know its possible scientifically, but I don't think most people would agree with me. I know its only a matter of time before a way is found of increasing the average lifespan of man to several times more than what it used to be.
With cryonics now we have people preserving their bodies with a hope of being raised back to life. But the thing bothering me is that I don't think humanity is ready for immortality at this stage. I'm guessing we have to become more peaceful first before we can make good use of our immortality. Well time would tell.
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Immortality

I sometimes ponder over the possiblity of human immortality. Yes, I know its possible scientifically, but I don't think most people would agree with me. I know its only a matter of time before a way is found of increasing the average lifespan of man to several times more than what it used to be.
With cryonics now we have people preserving their bodies with a hope of being raised back to life. But the thing bothering me is that I don't think humanity is ready for immortality at this stage. I'm guessing we have to become more peaceful first before we can make good use of our immortality. Time would tell
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Rael, An Atheist Religion

This is a religion and a way of life. I just got to know this recently and the message is simply amazing. Quite a lot is explained here and it has really opened up my eyes to the fact that we may not be alone in the universe.
One thing I really love is the way the position of humanity in relation to the universe is really made clear. It makes me feel infinitely small and infinitely large at the same time. At least now I would change a lot of things in my way of life.For centuries, scholars have been debating the two main possibilities for the origin and meaning of life. Some aspire to a higher philosophical dimension, which they can't find in the theory of evolution, while others dismiss as irrational any reference to an almighty god.
But what if another theory, one both rational and with philosophical depth, were to be available?
This is what the "Message" proposes: Thousands of years ago, scientists from another planet came to Earth and created all forms of life, including human beings, whom they created in their own image. References to these scientists and their work can be found in the ancient texts of many cultures. Due to their highly advanced technology, they were considered as gods by our primitive ancestors and often referred to as 'Elohim' which in ancient Hebrew meant 'Those who came from the sky'.
Despite being a plural word, Elohim was mistranslated over time to the singular 'God' reference that appears in modern-day Bibles.
Nevertheless, these people who came from the sky (the Elohim) educated humanity through the ages with the help of various messengers (also called prophets) with whom they had made contact. Each messenger was given a message suitable for the level of understanding prevailing at the time, with the primary purpose of instilling basic principles of non-violence and respect. Once humanity reached a sufficient level of scientific understanding, the Elohim decided to make themselves more visible in UFO sightings and to conceive their final message. Rael was given two missions: spreading that last message on Earth and preparing an embassy to welcome the return of our creators.

The atheist 'Intelligent Design Theory' offers a rational solution to the age-old debate between God-believers and evolutionists. It's compatible not only with today's scientific discoveries but also with the ancient historical accounts of all cultures.
To find out more go here http://rael.org
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