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Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward
My educational background in molecular biology (although it was so long ago I feel like saying - Has thou a need for an alchemist?) Aging is built into the genome. Now how and how to slow it down are still unknown. It'll take a full knowledge of how and when proteins are built, and a knowledge of how to stop adult gene from being eroded away during cell division to get there. We're just starting on the protein study and my guessimate is that it'll take 50 years to complete. That's the postcard short answer.
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I'm a Bioinformatician specialising on Genetics, nice to meet you
The "erodation" of adult genes or cells is only one factor (we are talking about multiple different steps here - e.g. Cell apostatis caused by 'too many replications error' or apostatis caused by 'read/write error' or simply apostatis caused by 'cell wall leaking error' etc) - and one factor that likely results in quite a number of types of cancer.
Overspecialisation combined with a total collapse of the immune system is another factor - and one we do not even begin to understand. Then there are mechanic problems (e.g. arteriosclerosis, rheumatism, etc) leading to e.g. heart attack or brain strokes.
It might be possible to build a process that leads to 'immortality' (if you can keep s/o young, you can keep them relatively immortal, provided you have the money) - but its most likely nothing any person actually on earth will be treated with..
Oh and yes - I actually need an alchemist. Can you provide me with some Gold?
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As to why? Look around you. Power over life and death is the ultimate control of government...
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It is - but I dont think it will be under government control - more like an automatic control through pricing issues.