Medical advances that prolong life are generally good Medical treatments these days are worth the costs Radical life extension would be good for society

Anjali Shankar Independent Research Dr. Kathy Wilson: Department of Cell Biology at Johns University School of Medicine Dr. Kiehl

Research Question, Hypothesis Thesis, Background Project, Data Analysis Final Product, Audience Conclusion

Question: “Which strategy, strategies for engineered negligible senescence, calorie restriction, learning from extending lifespan in C. elegans, or regenerative medicine through stem cells and tissue engineering, is the best and most realistic approach toward engineered life extension?” Hypothesis: Regenerative medicine through stem cells and tissue engineering would be most likely to lead to this.

The purpose of my paper was to introduce Progeria, explain why Progeria was originally thought to be connected to the normal aging process, why it isn’t anymore, and finally, analyze other strategies of life extension that are more like to become a reality.

A rare genetic condition whose symptoms resemble some aspects of aging, but develop extremely early

Why Progeria was originally thought to be connected to the normal aging process: Physical similarities Heart disease affects those with Progeria and those without it Progerin in everyone Why it isn’t anymore: Progeria seems to resemble the natural aging process because of they both eventually result in a massive loss of cells. Cell loss in Progeria is due to extensive DNA damage. Even though the splicing defect responsible for formation of progerin is present in wild-type cells, and that number of cells where progerin is present and its level appears to rise with aging, such cells are rare enough, and their progerin levels low enough, as to seem unlikely to contribute to normal aging.

Non-Experimental Science Research 4 scholarly peer-reviewed journals Strategies for engineered negligible senescence. Will calorie restriction work in humans? An Engineering Approach to Extending Lifespan in C. elegans Tissue Engineering, Stem Cells, and Cloning: Opportunities for Regenerative Medicine

research and advocacy program that aims to develop a cure for aging rather than trying to stop molecular and cellular damage, focuses on extending longevity in living organisms like humans through preventative medicine, repairing the damage in the small window after it is created but before it becomes a problem

the practice of limiting dietary intake in hopes that it will improve health and slow aging proven to extend healthy and maximum life span in rodents and primates

Biochemist Cynthia Kenyon has found a simple genetic mutation that can double the lifespan of a simple worm, C. elegans.

through stem cells and tissue engineering process of replacing or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function

Regenerative medicine in the first step toward a longer human life span. Over many years, the average life expectancy has more than doubled. Curing diseases considered fatal at the time, but have a very low death rate now, takes credit for this. Regenerative medicine has the potential to knock out many of the diseases and conditions prominent in our time and make them a thing of the past.

I created a website which contains all my research findings.

Regenerative medicine, strategies for engineered negligible senescence, calorie restriction, and C. elegans all have great potential, but they also have challenges that they will have to overcome before they will successful.

"About Progeria." Progeriaresearch.org. Progeria Research Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 Jan "Calorie Restriction Explained." Fight Aging! N.p., 7 Dec Web. 20 Mar "Cynthia Kenyon: Experiments That Hint of Longer Lives." Ted.com. TED Conferences, LLC, Nov Web. 10 Feb Grey, Aubrey De. "Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence: A SENS Primer." Interview by Stuart M. Dambrot. Youtube. Google Inc., 7 Aug Web. 18 Oct "Living to 120 and Beyond: Americans' Views on Aging, Medical Advances and Radical Life Extension." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS. N.p., 6 Aug Web. 28 May "Stem Cells, Regenerative Medicine, and Tissue Engineering." Fight Aging! N.p., 7 Dec Web. 20 Mar