2 ms·
Individual cells might live forever, but as of today organisms do not. Optional implies you (as a person) have a choice, but you do not.
by coldcode 6y ago
Individual cells might live forever, but as of today organisms do not. Optional implies you (as a person) have a choice, but you do not.
- hungryforcodes 6y agoAging is just another disease. Seen in that way it will be a choice, much like dying of tuberculosis or hepatitis c is. There are cures for them now. There is no reason to think aging and cancer (which seem related), are any different. Progress will give us the options.
- s7atic 6y agoThere are many organisms that appear to be able to live for exceedingly long times (and perhaps indefinitely). Disregarding unicellular organisms, there are, for example, species of jellyfish that appear biologically immortal [1]. There are also examples of trees (or, rather, root systems) that have lived for extremely long times [2]. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_immortality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_immortality [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pando_(tree) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pando_(tree)
- guerby 6y agoFunny that your [1] page doesn't mention the greenland shark : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland_shark https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland_shark "The oldest of the animals sampled, which also was the largest, had lived for 392 ± 120 years and was consequently born between 1504 and 1744" Listed here though: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest-living_organisms https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest-living_organis...