Ever think about that pill?-á You know, the pill that keeps you young. The mythical pill which stops aging, perhaps even reverses the process. We're talking about the fountain of youth from the back of a pharmacy. -á
It should only be a few years away. The idea's been floating around for ages now, and believe it or not there are some pretty freaky smart kids out there. Pretty soon, when you go in for a tetanus shot you'll also be able to get vaccinated for aging, right?-á
Sorry to burst your bubble, but according to a recent article published in Nature magazine, turning back the clock seems to be just as bad as the aging process itself.-á
That can't be right, though... I mean, if I were to stop getting older, wouldn't that be a good thing? I'd be healthy and, what's more, living for all eternity, Well, that sounds like a good thing to me.-á
However, in a study of one specific gene that helps in the aging process, scientists found that more harm was caused than good by reducing the effect of the gene.-á
The particular gene in question, p16INK4a, is a gene that causes stem cells to stop dividing over time. In essence, the longer you live, the less it allows your cells to regenerate. -áSo you get rid of p16INK4a and - bam! - your cells regenerate for the rest of your life. -á
Think about it. You won't have any more old injuries, they will all eventually fade away. You finally do get completely better. There isn't any more of that "old man syndrome" where you have to walk on a cane. Your muscles are just as strong as they ever were. No grey hair, no wrinkles - just young, beautiful skin and dark, lustrous hair for the rest of your life.-á
Except... wait... what happens when cells are allowed to divide unchecked? Oh, right, I remember. Cancer.-á
Apparently, when scientists knocked the gene out of some lab animals, they remained in perfect health throughout their entire lives. The animal's organs were in amazing condition, with almost no sign of aging when they died. Just you pay no mind to that giant freakish tumor hanging off the lab rat.-áThe aging process, as it turns out, is something of a cancer suppressant. As we age, our cells begin to regenerate less and less. We start to sag, our skin becomes wrinkly and gross, and our muscles and organs begin to deteriorate. In essence, we become Keith Richards. At least, you do. When I imagine myself as an aging British star, I always fancied myself as Sean Connery. -á
However, because the cells can't divide like crazy, it also greatly reduces the chances of cells growing in ways they aren't supposed to. In this way, it helps prevent cancerous growths. Stem cells just aren't allowed to spurt off like they used to.-áThe "knockout" mice, the ones without the gene, had no actual increase in their lifespan. They just died in perfect health, with gobs and gobs of cancer.-á
When asked to explain what all these findings meant, one scientist was quoted as saying "We are all doomed..."-á
Eat healthy and exercise, guys, because that pill seems to be moving further and further away.
Jason Cordial is a sophomore telecommunications major and wrote this 'The Unsteady Hand' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Jason at bob.the.orange.monkey.warrior@gmail.com
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