Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/10/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jeffery, There is some interesting new research that indicates the genetic life span can be altered to reach over five centuries. Of course on of the side effects is that you will need to lose all of your reproductive organs from birth. :( Don dorysrus@mindspring.com - -----Original Message----- From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Jeffery Smith Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 5:25 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: RE: [Leica] something something and now animals The life expectancy is certainly longer than it was 100 years ago. But lifespan does seem to be genetically determined. Medicine allows us to dodge the bullet longer. As they say, "All cigarette smokers will die from smoking-related causes unless they die of something else first", and "If you have a gun in the house, you are more likely to be shot by it than if you didn't have a gun in the house." - -----Original Message----- From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Barney Quinn Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 3:34 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: Re: [Leica] something something and now animals John, I don't know if I understand what you are trying to say. There certainly are operations which will prolong one's life. Ask a cancer or heart patient. And, serious disease, like blindness can most certainly shorten ones life in a number of ways which range from making one more accident prone, more subject to opportunistic diseases, to destroying ones will to live. I think that your analysis vastly underestimates the pernicious effects that chronic illness has on people. Barney John Collier wrote: > This is the classic misperception. That one or another operation will > make us live longer. It may improve your quality of life but it will > have little effect on how long you live. You imply that being blind > will prevent you from functioning in society. I would agree with the > proviso that you say "as I do now". Many people function perfectly > well in society with a wide variety of conditions that "normal" people > consider catastrophic. > > John Collier > > On Thursday, October 30, 2003, at 12:41 PM, Barney Quinn wrote: > > >> It is an opening into the broader debate of what consciousness and > >> intelligence are. Should other "lesser" organisms be sacrificed to > >> marginally improve our life span* (and looks)? > > > > Marginally improve my life span? I have very serious eye disease. I > > have had five operations. I may well need a sixth early next year. > > If it weren't for > > the modern, miracle medicinesand techniques which have been developed > > in part > > with animal research I would be blind, unale to support myself, and a > > burden > > to society. I am eternally greatful there there are doctors and > > scientists > > who have been willing to devote their lives to trying to help people > > with > > very real medical problems. > > -- > To unsubscribe, see > http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html