Re: What new technologies in genetics might increase life expectancy by 100 yrs

There are several techniques which have proven effective in laboratory 
tests. Two of these techniques would involve genetics changes. The first 
would be the addition of genes which tell the cells to produce 
telomerase. This works be increasing the number of cell divisions each 
cell could undergo before they "die". At the end of every 
chromosome is a repeating sequence of amino acids, this is called a 
telomere. When the cell divides the telomere loses part of the sequence 
and becomes shorter. This prevents the loss of parts of the other genes 
in the chromosome and is effectively like the fuse of the cell. When this 
fuse runs out the cell in effect, "dies". Telomerase works by rebuilding 
those lost pieces of the telomere in effect extending the life of the 
cell. This does not mean immortality of course. There are many things 
that  can kill a cell, this takes care of just one of them. Also, certain cells 
like brain cells, neurons, do not divide at all. Because of this it would 
not do them any good. So even if your body did not age your mind would.
The other method involves what are called "free-radicals". These are 
oxidants which cause damage to cells, and there are many things 
considered oxidants so it is very hard to deal with them. The answer to 
this problem is anti-oxidents. Scientists have, and are still conducting 
experiments which would make our cells produce more of these anti-
oxidents to help counter the free-radicals which are in our cells and our 
environment. Again this method is not foolproof and only covers one 
problem. 
Now lets say that science did manage to increase the average life span to 
150 years, what would that mean..... Well to start you must remember that 
there are over five billion people on this planet already and that the 
number gets larger every day. So if you made it so that people lived on 
the average twice as long you would have a population explosion. We can 
not even feed and employ the people we have now, so in doing this you 
would create a world disaster. Over population would leave to starvation 
and homelessness as well as a host of other problems. Basically what i 
am  trying to say is that humankind is not ready, not prepaired for such a 
break through. Perhaps one day yes, but not any time soon. As far as the 
benefits, people would live longer... that's about it but that seems like 
enough. Sure to have people live longer would be great but what price 
would the world pay?