X-Message-Number: 9901 Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 10:31:50 -0400 From: Bozzonetti <> Subject: No need for cryonics with New Scientist Informations found in New Scientist: Live long and prosper (NS, May 30, P.17) <<Robert Ricklefs of the University of Missouri at St Louis has tested the prediction about the link between slow ageing and lack of predators for a given species. Ricklefs also tested the theory that evolution should have pushed back senescence in long-lived organisms until old age accounts for the same small fraction of deaths as in shorter-lived animals. Surprisingly, this was not the case. Ricklefs says the percentage that died of old age in some slowly ageing species, including elephants, was higher than that for quickly ageing species. This implies that it may be impossible for evolution to delay senescence in these long-lived species any further, he argues.>> =2E.. There is too the possibility that these species are out of equilibrium, they are long lived for too few time to be fully adapted in that domain. NS, May 30, P.25: Fish may be good for your blood system, but too much of it makes men infertile because of mercury pollution. Same issue, p.27: The flower Clusia grandiflora produces in its female plants a resin as effective as common antibiotics to kill bacteria. ( Where to find seeds?). NS June 6, p.24. The lifespan of fruit flies may be extended by 40 per cent if they produce the enzyme superoxyde dismutase in their motor neurons (see too: Nature Genetics, vol. 19, p. 171.) Motor neurons seem to be the weak link in the defense against free radicals. =2E.. May the research expand our lifespan faster than the time goes by? Yvan Bozzonetti ******************** Use signature for spam! The product of the day: For sale, best price on 100 000 barrels of snake oil. ********************* Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=9901