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View Poll Results: GM you, yes or no...
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yes GM me, then kill me at 80 3 votes (37.50%)
no Ill take the traditional route 5 votes (62.50%)
Voters: 8. You may not vote on this poll
Genetically engineered fountain of youth Terms
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el chupacabra
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Feb 6, 2015, 02:54 AM
 
A hypothetical question.
Currently the technology exists to genetically engineer animals to age 30% slower. Which means living ~30% longer and spending a greater amount of time living in youth.

If you were offered a life where you got to age 30% slower, but in exchange had to sign a contract requiring you to be euthanized at 80yo (if you lived that long), would you take it?
     
andi*pandi
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Feb 6, 2015, 09:36 AM
 
Hmm, on the one hand, I'd be a much healthier and spry 80yo... so it seems a waste to off me. My folks are nearing 80 now, and still spry even with aches and pains.

Can we compromise on 90?
     
osiris
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Feb 6, 2015, 09:59 AM
 
No. If the age limit was 120, maybe.
"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
     
BLAZE_MkIV
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Feb 6, 2015, 10:33 AM
 
Yes, because said contract would be unenforcable.
     
The Final Dakar
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Feb 6, 2015, 11:15 AM
 
Originally Posted by BLAZE_MkIV View Post
Yes, because said contract would be unenforcable.
*Is presented with fantastical premise*
*Decides to derail it via loophole in contract law*
     
osiris
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Feb 6, 2015, 11:16 AM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
*Is presented with fantastical premise*
*Decides to derail it via loophole in contract law*
He must be a lawyer.
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The Final Dakar
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Feb 6, 2015, 11:16 AM
 
Originally Posted by osiris View Post
He must be a lawyer.
New Hampshire, so assume Libertarian.
     
BLAZE_MkIV
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Feb 6, 2015, 11:39 AM
 
Originally Posted by osiris View Post
He must be a lawyer.
Worse, an engineer.

Would you want to be a teenager 30% longer, would you want the terrible two's to last 30% longer?
     
andi*pandi
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Feb 6, 2015, 11:49 AM
 
I assumed from the OP just physical age, not mental, but good point.

Also, I think this was a Star Trek episode.
     
The Final Dakar
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Feb 6, 2015, 11:51 AM
 
Originally Posted by BLAZE_MkIV View Post
would you want the terrible two's to last 30% longer?
I'm not going to remember that. My parents get screwed.
     
osiris
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Feb 6, 2015, 12:16 PM
 
Originally Posted by BLAZE_MkIV View Post
Worse, an engineer.

Would you want to be a teenager 30% longer, would you want the terrible two's to last 30% longer?
If it means living to 120, yes.
"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
     
el chupacabra  (op)
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Feb 6, 2015, 02:05 PM
 
Originally Posted by BLAZE_MkIV View Post
Would you want to be a teenager 30% longer, would you want the terrible two's to last 30% longer?
It would not slow down development. Everything would be the same except you would maintain your youthful healing, energy, mobility, and strength for longer in life. At 42 you'd feel like a 28yo, at 79 you'd feel like a 56yo.

The science behind it: The genetic modification is relatively simple and was being done on lab animals from worms, to fish, rabbits, dogs and chimps over a decade ago. Cellular senescence is an accumulation of damage inside a cell that we refer to as aging. Much of the damage is caused by free radicals and toxic waste products from metabolism. There are enzymes naturally in our cells which break down these waste products. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, to name a couple. Biologists found they could slow down the destructive part of aging by doubling up transcription of these enzymatic genes. They can also tweak our metabolism to break down sugars more efficiently, causing less toxins to begin with, and possibly allowing us to eat less. As a side effect, this also lowers the probability of getting cancer. So these enzymes dont interfere with development, they only clean cells of destructive molecules so to speak.

It's still a fantasy question since we only know how to do this at the embryo stage, and the embryo couldn't choose weather to be GM or not. The embryo's parents would have to make the decision for it. Although biologists are now proposing complex stem-cell, and viral engineering methods of reversing aging in adults.
( Last edited by el chupacabra; Feb 6, 2015 at 02:27 PM. )
     
el chupacabra  (op)
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Feb 6, 2015, 02:09 PM
 
Originally Posted by andi*pandi View Post
Hmm, on the one hand, I'd be a much healthier and spry 80yo... so it seems a waste to off me. My folks are nearing 80 now, and still spry even with aches and pains.

Can we compromise on 90?
What about 85? Life expectancy 77 right? I don't want to make the decision too easy. But I am also curious of course where people draw the line for quantity vs quality of life.
     
Cap'n Tightpants
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Feb 6, 2015, 02:31 PM
 
No, because youth is overrated, and people in my family often live well into their 90s. So given the rate of advancements in medicine, it's very possible I'll live to be over 100.
"I have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a
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but by the content of their character." - M.L.King Jr
     
osiris
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Feb 6, 2015, 03:59 PM
 
Another thought - it would kind of suck to see everyone you know and love die. Maybe this "old" thing isn't all it's cracked up to be.
"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
     
ShortcutToMoncton
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Feb 6, 2015, 04:00 PM
 
But his point is that in your 90s (and 100s), you'll be more or less incapacitated, just like almost all 90-to-100-year-olds. I mean, you may be able to live by yourself, but most cannot or do not (at least not without significant support).

Let's face it, 75 is not really that old any more, but even with today's medicine most 75-year-olds are getting pretty creaky. If at 75 you could still ski, golf 36 holes, ride a mountain bike, remember names, or drive a car like you could in your 50s?

The other thing to think about is that I'm told most older people find life increasingly lonelier after about 80 years old - because your friends and peers start dying off pretty regularly, none of you get out as much as you used to, and your grandchildren get busy with their own young children and don't visit as much as they might have before.

I think I would totally agree. Then again, I'm only in my 30s, so perhaps I would think differently if I were in my 60s.
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The Final Dakar
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Feb 6, 2015, 04:00 PM
 
Originally Posted by osiris View Post
Another thought - it would kind of suck to see everyone you know and love die.
It would be glorious to see all you enemies and foes die.
     
osiris
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Feb 6, 2015, 04:07 PM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
It would be glorious to see all you enemies and foes die.
Truly glorious - delightful, even.
"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
     
boy8cookie
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Feb 6, 2015, 05:39 PM
 
I've already decided to make an attempt at the land speed record if I make it to 80 (26 now).
     
Waragainstsleep
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Feb 6, 2015, 09:49 PM
 
I'd take this deal. Doubt I'll make it to 80 anyway.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
turtle777
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Feb 6, 2015, 10:05 PM
 
I'd take it.

-t
     
   
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