Unlike the Stochastic Events That Determine Ageing, Sex Determines Longevity

Abstract

Contrary to popular belief, very little research is done on the fundamental etiology of biological ageing. Most research is done on longevity determinants or on age associated diseases, neither of which will provide insights into the fundamental cause of ageing. Although my research did not intend to answer questions in biogerontology the accidental discoveries that we made did. The phenomenological finding we made in 1961 that normal human cells have a finite replicative capacity torpedoed a dogma held since the invention of cell culture technology in 1907. The belief since then that cultured cells were immortal, mislead researchers to believe that ageing was caused by extracellular phenomena. Our findings focused attention on intracellular events as the origin of ageing. Twenty years later the discovery of telomere attrition and the enzyme telomerase explained the molecular basis for our findings and in 2009 their discoverers were awarded a Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology. The most likely cause of ageing in both animate and inanimate objects is based on the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics which underlies all other theories of ageing. For decades the failure to define key words and fundamental concepts in the field of biogerontology has thwarted progress in understanding the basic cause of ageing and this failure shows little sign of change.