Aging: Difference between revisions
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All [[System|systems]] are subject to '''aging'''. Besides [[Cancer|cancer]], understanding and controlling the aging process is a central problem of applied biology. Aging means the accumulation of changes in a system, organism or object over time. For organic lifeforms, the problems of aging are senescence (the general deterioration of the body with increasing age). It is still unclear why senescence — the general deterioration of vitality and resistance to adversity with advancing age — occurs and how it works. Reasons may be: | All [[System|systems]] are subject to '''aging''', even machines and software systems. Besides [[Cancer|cancer]], understanding and controlling the aging process is a central problem of applied biology. Aging means the accumulation of changes in a system, organism or object over time. For organic lifeforms, the problems of aging are senescence (the general deterioration of the body with increasing age). It is still unclear why senescence — the general deterioration of vitality and resistance to adversity with advancing age — occurs and how it works. Reasons may be: | ||
* normal wear and tear damage, damage that naturally and inevitably occurs in daily life | * normal wear and tear damage, damage that naturally and inevitably occurs in daily life | ||
Revision as of 16:27, 14 December 2008
All systems are subject to aging, even machines and software systems. Besides cancer, understanding and controlling the aging process is a central problem of applied biology. Aging means the accumulation of changes in a system, organism or object over time. For organic lifeforms, the problems of aging are senescence (the general deterioration of the body with increasing age). It is still unclear why senescence — the general deterioration of vitality and resistance to adversity with advancing age — occurs and how it works. Reasons may be:
- normal wear and tear damage, damage that naturally and inevitably occurs in daily life
- accumulation of waste products that interfere with metabolism
- accumulation of mutations which violates the genetic integrity and gradually damage the genetic code
- suppression of mechanisms that prevent further regeneration (e.g. by shortened telomeres)
Links
- Wikipedia link for Aging
