Tweaked Genes Can Double Worm's Lifespan

jlechem writes ">New Scientist is reporting that U.S. scientists have doubled the life span of nematode worms with no apparent physiological side affects. Before scientists were able to double the worms lifespan but they were unable to reproduce. The breakthrough was achieved by turning certain genes on and off at certain times during the development cycle of the worms. While limited to worms right now, the researchers believe this could eventually lead to longer human lifespans. So what happens to those people who don't want to live forever?"

Comments

Thats simple

[bpb213]

"So what happens to those people who don't want to live forever?"

Only the people who want to live forever will pay to have it done.

(id imagine this cant be cheap for a while)

(and besides, 200 years isnt forever).

2x the life but no reproduction sounds good to me

[dh003i]

I don't know about all of you, but I'd gladly settle to live twice as long for the "sacrafice" of not being able to have children.

Re:Fixed point solution

[Yokaze]

Ah, that's why the young people are so cautious, fearing the abrupt end of their long productive life, while the old ones, facing the imminent death, are the adventurous ones.

To be more serious:
Young people are more adventurous, they're less aware that they can die. Death is an "Others People Problem". When people get older, they become more aware that life is quite fragile and suddenly have an eye on their health.

The absence from a death by ageing could make people even more adventurous. The abundance of a thing usually makes one less aware of its value.

Imagine a possible biography of an practicably immortal and compare it to a typical one from today.