Article/Link: "Purging Cells in Mice Is Found to Combat Aging Ills" by Nicholas Wade
Published: Nov. 2, 2011 ; accessed: Nov. 3, 2011
Summary: Recent research has led to the discovery of a special category of cells named senescent cells. These cells are responsible for most of the deterioration of your body as it grows older, as they secrete agents that cause cataracts, muscle weakening, loss of fat (in a bad way) and more. Researchers Darren Baker and Jan van Deursen created a strain of mouse where they could destroy the senescent cells found in the mice's tissues by giving the mice a certain drug. Once the mice did not have these cells anymore, they improved in handling the aging ills. Aging research is fairly new in the scheme of things (only 20 years) so this is a major breakthrough in combatting age. In humans and mice, senescent cells are present in small amounts, but they have major effects. In another experiment, the mice were given the drug at middle age, and it was shown to help them with muscle and fat tissue.
Response: The fact that science has advanced so much as to provide a way to combat aging in mice is amazing, and the fact that they could potentially use this research to combat aging in humans as well is incredible. There are many pleasant effects of growing old, and if this drug is produced then it can take away most of the negative effects of aging, and probably extend the typical life span. However it raises the question of where we will stop. Will we continue to try to fight age until we can extend our lives to 200 or 300 years? Even if we achieve this, will that be a good thing? Personally, I do not think it will. We already have a population of seven billion, so first of all it would increase the rate that the population is growing, and we cannot afford that. Also, it would widen the gap even more between first-world and third-world countries, with some countries having triple or quadruple the average life expectancy compared to other countries
Vocabulary:
Word 1: cataract
a) "Senescent cells accumulate in aging tissues, like arthritic knees, cataracts and the plaque that may line elderly arteries."
b) a clouding of the lens of the eye or of its surrounding transparent membrane that obstructs the passage of light. Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French catharacte, from Medieval Latin cataracta, from Latin, portcullis. First known use: 14th century
c) The teacher was so elderly, even his cataracts had cataracts.
Word 2: tangible
a) "This line of research remains promising but has produced few tangible results so far."
b) capable of being appraised at an actual or approximate value. Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tangere to touch. First Known Use: 1589
c) The student was at a loss: she could find no tangible evidence to support her thesis.
Word 3: inflammatory
a) "Drugs already exist to combat some of the inflammatory hormones secreted by senescent cells."
b) accompanied by or tending to cause inflammation (a local response to cellular injury that is marked by capillary dilatation, leukocytic infiltration, redness, heat, and pain and that serves as a mechanism initiating the elimination of noxious agents and of damaged tissue). First known use: circa 1711
c) "I cannot hear you," exclaimed the student, "as I have an inflammatory disease that blocks my hearing!"
Published: Nov. 2, 2011 ; accessed: Nov. 3, 2011
Summary: Recent research has led to the discovery of a special category of cells named senescent cells. These cells are responsible for most of the deterioration of your body as it grows older, as they secrete agents that cause cataracts, muscle weakening, loss of fat (in a bad way) and more. Researchers Darren Baker and Jan van Deursen created a strain of mouse where they could destroy the senescent cells found in the mice's tissues by giving the mice a certain drug. Once the mice did not have these cells anymore, they improved in handling the aging ills. Aging research is fairly new in the scheme of things (only 20 years) so this is a major breakthrough in combatting age. In humans and mice, senescent cells are present in small amounts, but they have major effects. In another experiment, the mice were given the drug at middle age, and it was shown to help them with muscle and fat tissue.
Response: The fact that science has advanced so much as to provide a way to combat aging in mice is amazing, and the fact that they could potentially use this research to combat aging in humans as well is incredible. There are many pleasant effects of growing old, and if this drug is produced then it can take away most of the negative effects of aging, and probably extend the typical life span. However it raises the question of where we will stop. Will we continue to try to fight age until we can extend our lives to 200 or 300 years? Even if we achieve this, will that be a good thing? Personally, I do not think it will. We already have a population of seven billion, so first of all it would increase the rate that the population is growing, and we cannot afford that. Also, it would widen the gap even more between first-world and third-world countries, with some countries having triple or quadruple the average life expectancy compared to other countries
Vocabulary:
Word 1: cataract
a) "Senescent cells accumulate in aging tissues, like arthritic knees, cataracts and the plaque that may line elderly arteries."
b) a clouding of the lens of the eye or of its surrounding transparent membrane that obstructs the passage of light. Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French catharacte, from Medieval Latin cataracta, from Latin, portcullis. First known use: 14th century
c) The teacher was so elderly, even his cataracts had cataracts.
Word 2: tangible
a) "This line of research remains promising but has produced few tangible results so far."
b) capable of being appraised at an actual or approximate value. Late Latin tangibilis, from Latin tangere to touch. First Known Use: 1589
c) The student was at a loss: she could find no tangible evidence to support her thesis.
Word 3: inflammatory
a) "Drugs already exist to combat some of the inflammatory hormones secreted by senescent cells."
b) accompanied by or tending to cause inflammation (a local response to cellular injury that is marked by capillary dilatation, leukocytic infiltration, redness, heat, and pain and that serves as a mechanism initiating the elimination of noxious agents and of damaged tissue). First known use: circa 1711
c) "I cannot hear you," exclaimed the student, "as I have an inflammatory disease that blocks my hearing!"
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