A Means to an End: The Biological Basis of Aging and DeathWhy do we age? Is aging inevitable? Will advances in medical knowledge allow us to extend the human lifespan beyond its present limits? Because growing old has long been the one irreducible reality of human existence, these intriguing questions arise more often in the context of science fiction than science fact. But recent discoveries in the fields of cell biology and molecular genetics are seriously challenging the assumption that human lifespans are beyond our control. With such discoveries in mind, noted cell biologist William R. Clark clearly and skillfully describes how senescence begins at the level of individual cells and how cellular replication may be bound up with aging of the entire organism. He explores the evolutionary origin and function of aging, the cellular connections between aging and cancer, the parallels between cellular senescence and Alzheimer's disease, and the insights gained through studying human genetic disorders--such as Werner's syndrome--that mimic the symptoms of aging. Clark also explains how reduction in caloric intake may actually help increase lifespan, and how the destructive effects of oxidative elements in the body may be limited by the consumption of antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. In a final chapter, Clark considers the social and economic aspects of living longer, the implications of gene therapy on senescence, and what we might learn about aging from experiments in cloning. This is a highly readable, provocative account of some of the most far-reaching and controversial questions we are likely to ask in the next century. |
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A MEANS TO AN END: The Biological Basis of Aging and Death
User Review - KirkusA virtual textbook on what the growing knowledge of biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology is revealing about the basic mechanisms of aging. Clark, professor emeritus of immunology at Univ. of ... Read full review
A means to an end: the biological basis of aging and death
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictAs in his previous books, Clark (immunology, emeritus, UCLA; The New Healers: Molecular Medicine in the Twenty-First Century, LJ 12/97) does not hesitate to introduce the lay reader to complex ... Read full review
Contents
Aging Senescence and Lifespan | 3 |
The Nature of Cellular Senescence and Death | 21 |
The Evolution of Senescence and Death | 41 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
ability accidental active aging aging process alleles Alzheimer's disease animals appear associated average become begin body brain called caloric restriction cancer carried cause cell cycle cell division cellular century changes chromosome common complete continue copies curve damage death defect diet disease divide early effect entirely eukaryotes evolution evolutionary example experiments expressed fact factor fibroblasts fully function genes genetic given growth human important increase individuals involved least less live longer look loss major maturity maximum lifespan mechanisms mice molecular molecules mutations natural neuritic normal occurs once organism oxygen particularly patients percent perhaps physical population possible present problem produced proteins question rats repair replicative senescence reproductive response result role seen selection senescence signals simply single skin species studies suggests throughout tion tissues true tumor understand vitamin vitro
Bibliographic information
| Title | A Means to an End: The Biological Basis of Aging and Death |
| Authors | William R. Clark, Willa Clark |
| Contributor | Ralph Erskine Conrad Memorial Fund |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press, 1999 |
| ISBN | 0195125932, 9780195125931 |
| Length | 234 pages |
| Subjects | › › FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS Science / Life Sciences / Biology Science / Life Sciences / Cell Biology Science / Philosophy & Social Aspects |
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