A Means to an End: The Biological Basis of Aging and Death

Clark, William R.

ISBN 10: 0195125932 / ISBN 13: 9780195125931

Edité par Oxford University Press, 1999

Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. N° de réf. du vendeur 00095250872

Synopsis :

This work covers ageing from a fundamental cell biological perspective. The evolution and developmental genetics of senescence are explained clearly. All the various theories of ageing - the Hayflick limit and telomeric shortening as a possible biological clock, the impacts of somatic mutations, oxidative stress, accumulation of waste materials in cells with age - are explained and critically assessed. The author presents vivid case accounts about disorders that open windows on to the ageing process. The impacts of ageing on the brain and nervous system are given special attention, as are the effects of caloric restriction on maximum lifespan.

Présentation de l'éditeur: Why do we age? Is aging inevitable? Will advances in medical knowledge allow us to extend the human lifespan beyond its present limits? Because growing old has long been the one irreducible reality of human existence, these intriguing questions arise more often in the context of science fiction than science fact. But recent discoveries in the fields of cell biology and molecular genetics are seriously challenging the assumption that human lifespans are beyond our control. With such discoveries in mind, noted cell biologist William R. Clark clearly and skillfully describes how senescence begins at the level of individual cells and how cellular replication may be bound up with aging of the entire organism. He explores the evolutionary origin and function of aging, the cellular connections between aging and cancer, the parallels between cellular senescence and Alzheimer's disease, and the insights gained through studying human genetic disorders--such as Werner's syndrome--that mimic the symptoms of aging. Clark also explains how reduction in caloric intake may actually help increase lifespan, and how the destructive effects of oxidative elements in the body may be limited by the consumption of antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. In a final chapter, Clark considers the social and economic aspects of living longer, the implications of gene therapy on senescence, and what we might learn about aging from experiments in cloning. This is a highly readable, provocative account of some of the most far-reaching and controversial questions we are likely to ask in the next century.

Détails bibliographiques

Titre : A Means to an End: The Biological Basis of ...
Éditeur : Oxford University Press
Date d'édition : 1999
Reliure : Couverture rigide
Etat : Good