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A means to an end : the biological basis of aging and death /
Why do we age? Is aging inevitable? Will advances in medical knowledge allow us to extend the human lifespan beyond its present limits? Because growing old has long been the one irreducible reality of human existence, these intriguing questions arise more often in the context of science fiction than...
| Clasificación: | Libro Electrónico |
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| Autor principal: | |
| Formato: | Electrónico eBook |
| Idioma: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
New York ; Oxford :
Oxford University Press,
2002.
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| Temas: | |
| Acceso en línea: | Texto completo |
| Sumario: | Why do we age? Is aging inevitable? Will advances in medical knowledge allow us to extend the human lifespan beyond its present limits? Because growing old has long been the one irreducible reality of human existence, these intriguing questions arise more often in the context of science fiction than science fact. But recent discoveries in the fields of cell biology and molecular genetics are seriously challenging the assumption that human lifespans are beyond our control.; With such discoveries in mind, noted cell biologist William R. Clark clearly and skillfully describes how senescence begins at the level of individual cells and how cellular replication may be bound up with aging of the entire organism. He explores the evolutionary origin and function of aging, the cellular connections between aging and cancer, the parallels between cellular senescence and Alzheimer's disease, and the insights gained through studying human genetic disorders-such as; Werner's syndrome-that mimic the symptoms of aging. Clark also explains how reduction in caloric intake may actually help increase lifespan, and how the destructive effects of oxidative elements in the body may be limited by the consumption of antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. In a final; chapter, Clark considers the social and economic aspects of living longer, the implications of gene therapy on senescence, and what we might learn about aging from experiments in cloning.; This is a highly readable, provocative account of some of the most far-reaching and controversial questions we are likely to ask in the next century. |
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| Notas: | Originally published: 1999. |
| Descripción Física: | 1 online resource (xv, 234 pages) : illustrations |
| Bibliografía: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| ISBN: | 9780198029113 019802911X 0195303369 9780195303360 9780195125931 0195125932 9780195153750 0195153758 1280502045 9781280502040 1602567751 9781602567757 |