Lifeboat Foundation

A genetic marker linked to premature aging was reversed in children with obesity during a six-month diet and exercise program, according to a recent study led by the Stanford School of Medicine.

Children’s telomeres—protective molecular “caps” on the chromosomes—were longer during the weight management program, then were shorter again in the year after the program ended, the study found. The research was published last month in Pediatric Obesity.

Like the solid segment at the end of a shoelace, telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes from fraying. In all people, telomeres gradually shorten with aging. Various conditions, including obesity, cause premature shortening of the telomeres.

Gene editing is revolutionizing the understanding of health and disease, providing researchers with vast opportunities to advance the development of novel treatment approaches. Traditionally, researchers used various methods to introduce double strand breaks (DSBs) into the genome, including transactivator-like effectors, meganucleases, and zinc finger nucleases. While useful, these techniques are limited in that they are time and labor intensive, less efficient, and can have unintended effects. In contrast, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein-9 (Cas9) system (CRISPR/Cas9) is among the most sensitive and efficient methods for creating DNA DSBs, making it the leading gene editing technology.

CRISPR/Cas9 is a naturally occurring immune protective process that bacteria use to destroy foreign genetic material.¹ Researchers repurposed the CRISPR/Cas9 system for genetic engineering applications in mammalian cells, exploiting the molecular processes that introduce DSBs in specific sections of DNA, which are then repaired to turn certain genes on or off, or to correct genomic errors with extraordinary precision.^2,3 This technology’s applications are far reaching, from cell culture and animal models to translational research that focuses on correcting genetic mutations in diseases such as cancer, hemophilia, and sickle cell disease.⁴

Researchers exploit plasmids, the small, closed circular DNA strands native to bacteria, as delivery vehicles in CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing protocols. Plasmids shuttle the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing components to target cells and can be manipulated to control gene editing activity, including targeting multiple genes at a time. Plasmids can also deliver gene repair instructions and machinery. For example, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) is an enzyme that drives DNA repair and transcription.⁵ It is a critical aspect of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology in part because it helps repair the DSBs created by the CRISPR/Cas9 system. PARP1 CRISPR plasmids can edit, knockout, or upregulate PARP1 gene expression depending on the specific instructions encoded in the plasmid.

Astronauts content themselves with freeze-dried gruel, but plans for crewed missions to Mars mean scientists need to create more delicious, nutritious menus by James Shackell.

Dr. David Sinclair’s groundbreaking research indicates a pill capable of reversing aging at a cellular level is possible and that even a high school student…

Mainly this is about vertical farming.

In this eye-opening video, we explore the complex Environmental Impacts of an Aging Cure, delving into how extending Human Lifespan and pursuing Longevity could reshape our planet. We investigate the potential for increased Population Growth, the challenges of Sustainability, and the implications for Resource Consumption. Our analysis covers the Ecological Footprint of a world where aging is a thing of the past, addressing both the ethical dilemmas and the potential for Biomedical Advances in Age-Related Research. As concerns about Overpopulation and the need for Renewable Resources come to the forefront, we examine Eco-friendly Technologies and their role in supporting an age-extended society. Join us in this critical discussion about the intersection of Environmental Ethics and the quest for Age Extension.

Continue reading “How Will An AGING CURE Impact The Environment?” »

Sewage surveillance has helped us track polio, covid, mpox, and more. Why not measles?

A team of researchers from Tohoku University and Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) has achieved significant advancement in the field of microfluidics, allowing for precise and efficient manipulation of fluids in three-dimensional microscale environments. This work opens up new possibilities for bioanalytical applications, such as cell separations in the realm of medical diagnostics.

Details of their breakthrough were published in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering on January 22, 2024.

Microfluidic devices are designed to handle minuscule fluid volumes, allowing researchers to perform analyses and processes with remarkable precision and efficiency.

Scientists in the global south use the popular technique to protect local crops against local threats.

Researchers have ‘hacked’ DNA to develop self-assembling metallic and semiconductor 3D nanostructures, the building blocks for next-generation materials.