The Longevity Seekers: Science, Business, and the Fountain of Youth (From Obscurity, 1980-2005 -- Greater Than The Double Helix Itself, 1980-1990 -- The Grim Reaper, 1991-1993 -- Sorcerer's Apprentices, 1991-1996 -- Race For A Master Switch, 1989-2000 -- Money To Burn, 2000-2003 -- Longevity Noir, 2003-2004 -- Betting The Trifecta, 2005-2006 -- Defying Gravity: The Battle To Find A Drug For Extending Health, 2005-2013 -- Sex, Power And The Wild: The Evolution Of A)

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Synopsis
&“[A] beautifully told story of twenty-first-century researchers in pursuit of the secrets of longevity . . . a book both engaging and illuminating.&” —Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author People have searched for the fountain of youth everywhere from Bimini to St. Augustine. But for a steadfast group of scientists, the secret to a long life lies elsewhere: in the lowly lab worm. By suppressing the function of just a few key genes, these scientists were able to lengthen worms&’ lifespans up to tenfold, while also controlling the onset of many of the physical problems that beset old age. As the global population ages, the potential impact of this discovery on society is vast—as is the potential for profit. With The Longevity Seekers, science writer Ted Anton takes readers inside this tale that began with worms and branched out to snare innovative minds from California to Crete, investments from big biotech, and endorsements from TV personalities like Oprah and Dr. Oz. Some of the research was remarkable, such as the discovery of an enzyme in humans that stops cells from aging. And some—like an oft-cited study touting the compound resveratrol, found in red wine—proved highly controversial, igniting a science war over truth, credit, and potential profit. As the pace of discovery accelerated, so too did powerful personal rivalries and public fascination, driven by the hope that a longer, healthier life was right around the corner. Anton has spent years interviewing and working with the scientists at the frontier of longevity science, and this book offers a behind-the-scenes look at the state-of-the-art research and the impact it might have on global public health, society, and even our friends and family
Copyright:
2013

Book Details

Book Quality:
Publisher Quality
Book Size:
224 Pages
ISBN-13:
9780226020952
Related ISBNs:
9780226020938
Publisher:
The University of Chicago Press
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
Ted Anton
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
Nonfiction, Science, Health, Mind and Body, Social Studies, Medicine
Submitted By:
Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.

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