Maxwell's House 24

Maxwell's House Episode 24

Hosts: Leo Laporte and Ray Maxwell Topic: Biotech and the Fountain of Youth Recorded: April 30, 2009 Transcript Previous episode – Next episode

Contents 1 Topics 2 Websites 3 Notable Comments/email 4 Production Notes

Topics

1. Autism update…12,000 patients genome is mapped. They have been able to link certain genes to certain brain differences associated with Autism. It may involve up to 50 genes. There has been strong evidence that Autism runs in families. If one child has Autism you have a 1 in 5 chance that a second child will have it. Knowing what genes turn on certain effects in the brain cells, may allow drug treatments to be devised.
2. New lens for Leo…1,200 mm f/5.6 Canon lens.
   1. Listed at B&H photo of N.Y.
   2. About 12 made in the last 5-6 years.
   3. Hand made for special order.
   4. Used…$120,000
3. Geek Cruise…MacMainia…neil@insightcruises.com
4. Fountain of Youth???
   1. Cynthia Kenyon…Spoke at UBC…Guy Immega.
   2. American Cancer Society Research Professor, Director, UCSF Hillblom Center for the Biology of Aging, and founder and director of Elixir Pharmaceuticals.
   3. Futures in Biotech…Marc Pelletier
   4. www.ibioseminars.org
   5. Mouse…2 years, Canary…15 years, Bat…50 years
   6. C elegans…Round worm…about the size of a comma
   7. It has a typical life span of 2 weeks.
   8. She found damaged genes in some worms that had twice the normal life span…daf-2 gene
      1. daf-2 encodes the receptor for insulin and growth hormone
   9. They turned down these receptors in fruit flies and mice…They lived longer.
   10. We have three different animals whose genes behave in the same way. This points to them having a common ancestor.
   11. Evolution tells us that humans will share this common ancestor and therefore this may work in humans.
   12. Timing of turning the gene off. Turn off when adult.
   13. It turns out that the daf-2 gene works with the daf-16 gene to communicate with a number of other genes.
   14. They found that switching each of the other genes had an effect on life span. However, daf-2 and daf-16 can effect all of the genes and the combination gives a longer life.
   15. Note that daf-2 effect IGF-1 (growth hormone) and Insulin.
   16. One controls growth and one controls food storage.
   17. In adulthood IGF-1 and Insulin cause aging.
   18. If you eat less, you live longer.
   19. Less food means less Insulin.
   20. They found if they turned off the ability to smell food the worm ate less and lived longer.
   21. Taste and Smell effect life span.
   22. When the internet lecture was given Cynthia had extended the worm’s life span 6 times.
   23. At the lecture at UBC, she had extended the the worms life 10 times.
   24. daf-2 effects growth, reproduction, and aging.
   25. Many diseases are more prevalent in old age.
   26. . Cancer tumors appear in old age.
   27. . If you turn off these genes it reduces the number of cancer tumors.
   28. . The daf-2 mutant gene can reduce:
       1. Heart failure
       2. Alzheimer’s
       3. Cancer
5. What other political, social, and cultural problems will these new biotech research cause?
   1. FDA has no protocol for anti-aging drugs.
   2. How do we adjust our reproduction?
   3. What is the effect on over population?
   4. What are the cultural problems?
      1. Are we playing God?
      2. Should we have assisted suicide?
      3. Should we be able to extend life?
   5. What are the economic effects?
   6. How much will be charged to extend your life span?
   7. If only the rich can afford it, and some of the rich are psychopaths, what will the long term effect be.
   8. What are the economic effects of many older people who are healthy and retired and living off investments?
   9. What if they don’t retire and work much longer?
   10. Can you take the life extending pill after you are in fulltime care in a health facility?
   11. Could an insurance company force you to take the pill to get healthcare coverage or life insurance?
   12. Would we impose term limits on members of the Supreme Court?
   13. Should we insist that our government start working on laws having to do with these possibilities now?

Websites

Notable Comments/email

neil@insightcruises.com

Remember to email your questions/comments and/or topics for future shows to ray@twit.tv

Production Notes

• Recorded Date: April 30, 2009
• Release Date:
• Duration:
• Log line:
• Edited by:
• Notes: