I have been following the world of micro-biology, nanotechnology, genetics, and anti-aging for quite some time. Recently, after being discovered a decade ago Standford researchers found some two new key proteins in regards to telemerase.

Telomers sit at each end of a chromosome, the elongated X-shaped thing that contains our DNA.  After cells divide a little chunk of the telomer disappears, aging the cells.  Old cells off-themselves so they don’t pass on harmful mutations.

Telemerase is an enzyme that repairs damaged telomeres.  Cancer cells have telemerase, and normal cells don’t (it vanishes shortly after birth) which is why cancer cells live forever.  A drug that blocks telemerase should help block cancer, or a drug that induces telemerase could extend life.

So what did Stanford scientists do?  “With gene in hand” and “many technical advances” the scientists “chopped the massive telomerase complex into tiny protein pieces,” put them through a “sensative device that detected the pieces” and found two proteins in telomerase.  They disabled one protein using “genetic trickery” in petri dish cells and found out which gene produced the protein or proteins.

The Importance of Proteins

This is a big deal. It not only means you could, in theory, tell cancerous cells to “die”, but you could essentially tell cells to stop division e.g. eternal life. As an aside and for the curious the genetadox story in Second Life  a.ka.. Primula Rasa: Chevalier versus Prototyper campaign in Second Life was partly inspired by telemerase research.

“In essence, they seek to discover clues as to “how” and “why” they have advanced to such a high stage in evolution, while so many others remain nothing more than what some would consider primitives…or animals at best. A ruling was put forth by the Council of the Galactic Consortium of Lemnus in order to end the rivalry that, based on Seldone Entropical Theory, could cause serious unrest and economic upheaval.

This task, upon completion, would determine which of the two schools of thought would be next in line to lead all advanced life of the known metaverse and access to the rare and precious Genetadox vaccine. The Consortium power structure, by law, must change hands once a millennium. These laws were enacted through the passing of the Genetic Longevity Caste Act due to the much longer life spans granted after genome mapping was completed and stem cell mining was legalized leading to the creation of Genetadox. Also, perhaps, in the process, solve one of the greatest mysteries of all time.”

Enter Molecule CGK733

Korean researchers have found a complex thiourea derivative that can extend the lifetime of mammalian cells and reverse cellular aging.

Colleagues at Korea’s Advanced Institute of Science & Technology report that CGK733 can extend the lifetime of cultured cells by approximately 20 divisions, or roughly 25%.

A cell’s aging is often called ”senescence,” a term that describes the physical and biochemical signs of a cell’s deterioration toward death. These includes signals for the cessation of cell division, release of chemicals from the cell informing others of its impending doom, and an increase in the girth of the cell.

CGK733 is the first small molecule that can reverse aspects of cell senescence. Genetic techniques have been used to do so in the past. However, CGK733 unique is that its antiaging properties are reversible: When CGK733 is removed, cells return to normal aging and death.

That is a big deal. Futurists know we are about to enter into an era the equivalent of a technological blitzkrieg. Quantum computers will usher in this change. Who gets the antidote? Who gets the innoculation? That is part of the story that Primula Rasa was exploring- science versus the mystics and of course, those that choose neither side.

Molecules Versus Genetics

Cellular senescence researcher Judith Campisi of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory says CGK733 will be a good lab tool for biologists. “CGK733 is an example of what many scientists hope will be a trend: the identification of small molecules to mimic more cumbersome genetic interventions to regulate cellular behavior.”

Eternal life may be right around the corner. But I have a feeling the war fought to obtain it will kill alot more than it will save. The best bet is to find the cure, encode it into popular music and art and hope humankind evolves a bit more.

anti aging CGK733 future science genetics molecules nanotechnology proteins research Science telemerase

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