Anders Sandberg wrote:
> > I was under the impression that gene therapy was already being done
> > with genetically engineered cells which provided products directly
> > inside/to the body. I see no principled reason why this can't be done
> > for hormones or Vitamin C or what have you.
>
> That should work. The problem might be where to put them, but for
> substances that are very bioactive not many cells are needed. One fun
> possibility is otherwise to use engineered gut bacteria - they produce
> vitamin K, so why not C?
I agree that organ transplants is not a good solution (too dangerous and
impossible in many cases -- the brain). Puting some bacteria to work is
not a bad idea, but I don't think that to be enough. My best option is
gene therapy. If we could just make a few cells immortal, these cells
would spread in the body because they would be in advantage when
compared to the normal aging cells. All we have to do is find a way to
turn our cells immortal and improve our gene therapy techniques -- and
this might not be very far away.
Also on the subject, I recently wrote an article for a magazine called
"Longevity Report" about the applications of gene therapy on controlling
aging, it can be found at:
http://www.longevb.demon.co.uk/lr63.htm#_1_2
See ya,
--
Hasta la vista...
"Life's too short to cry, long enough to try." - Kai Hansen
Reason's Triumph at: http://homepage.esoterica.pt/~jpnitya/