Tinkering extends life of organism by 10-fold

Scientists have increased the lifespan of yeast, microbes responsible for creating bread and beer, by 10-fold (ten times). That’s twice the previous record for life extension in an organism. This accomplishment is mostly going towards efforts to extend human lives. The yeast lived for about ten weeks instead of living for only one week through genetic tinkering and a low calorie diet. "We've reprogrammed the healthy life of an organism," said Valter Longo, a biologist at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles who led the life-prolonging experiments. "Evolution designed our genes, our army, to be ready for growth and reproduction," Longo told LiveScience. Problem is, pooling the body's efforts into growing makes room for genetic errors that lead to age-related disease. "We can use our energy to grow and reproduce, or protect ourselves."Longo and his team previously found two genes related to growth and development in cancer that are similar in humans and yeast. They are so alike that you can put the human one into the yeast one and it will still work. Longo thinks that genes act like generals of the genetic army, ordering troops to protect the body’s DNA under caloric stress instead of fighting for growth. To find out how the age-defying treatment works in humans, Longo and his group are now studying Ecuadorians who have similar mutations in age-controlling genes used in the yeast. “People with two copies of the mutations have very small stature and other defects,” he said. Despite the problems, Longo said, the people likely benefit from their condition. "So far, we have never seen cancer in people who have two copies of the mutated genes," he said. “We are now identifying the relatives with only one copy of the mutation, who are apparently normal. We hope that they will show a reduced incidence of diseases and an extended life span." In my opinion I don't actually think Longo is going to get anywhere with this. I just don't believe it is possible for humans to play "God" with humans. Also, plants are not as complicated as humans.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22651648/