From: Joao Magalhaes (jpnitya@skynet.be)
Date: Sat Aug 24 2002 - 13:45:24 MDT
There are studies in mice and flies showing the same phenomena. Mice
exposed to small doses of ionizing radiation actually live more than
controls -- though I think they use sterile mice for the experiment. This
was done decades ago. The best explanation I know is hormesis. Hormesis is
the name given to the stimulatory effects caused by low levels of
potentially toxic agents. Basically, if you stress an organism -- with, for
example, radiation -- it will stimulate its defences and it will thus be
stronger afterwards. Check the works by Suresh Rattan in Medline if you
want to know more.
At 10:12 24-08-2002 -0700, you wrote:
>This seems pretty counter-intuitive. Anyone care to advance some armchair
>theories?
>
>http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/08/020823063221.htm
>
>Reason
>http://www.exratio.com
>
Joao Magalhaes (joao.magalhaes@fundp.ac.be)
Website on Aging: http://www.senescence.info
Reason's Triumph: http://www.jpreason.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sat Nov 02 2002 - 09:16:24 MST