Human life span only 10 years?

[Kusala]

In 1993 geneticists at UCSF in California learned how to turn genes on and off for aging in round worms. It stands to reason that the same could be done for humans by now, 20 years later. The worm lived, healthily and youthfully twice past its life expectancy. It only began to age and die when they "turned on" the genes that would begin it's decent into aging and death. There are limits though. Eventually things will age and die with or without outside manipulation according to the study. Another scientist whose name I forget says that this can be sustained for much longer periods, but it has to do with freezing cells down to -240 degrees Farenheit... and none of this really matters here.

It's not all that surprising to hear of a 9 year old giving birth. I have a 7 year old great-niece who is already showing signs of puberty. Regardless of what is said about hormones in meat, etc, it's pretty obvious that that is what is going on. Experimentation with reproductive function is nothing new in North America. It's been a big center of interest for geneticists since the late 1950's when they really started to get a good grasp of how everything works. Inducing animals into early puberty isn't all that darned difficult. The better question might be concerning the morality and repercussions if governments and individuals are allowed to keep experimenting with things like these. Given the current overpopulation of humans on the planet, can you imagine how it will be if we started living to 150, 160 or more?

PS People living to be 800 or 10,000 years old? C'mon. That's just silly. Personally I would never believe it if it said that in the Pali Canon itself. As for the Bible...well I wouldn't be a Buddhist now if I had believed in the Bible very much. But will any of this get us any closer to liberation? Probably not.

"Scientists say they're close to unlocking the secrets of immortality"

http://www.today.com/id/45654223/site/t ... mortality/

[polarbuddha101]

"Scientists say they're close to unlocking the secrets of immortality"

http://www.today.com/id/45654223/site/t ... mortality/

So was the first emperor of China until it turned out to be mercury and he died a horrible death.

[Ryuejaku]

In the Digha Nikaya 26, Cakkavatti Sutta, it is reported that the human life span at a future degenerate, Dhamma-ending age will only be 10 years old. Mythological elements borrowed from Brahmanism? Perhaps, but then there is this:

9 year old girl gives birth

There are insects who only live about 24 hours, just long enough to mate and then die. At some future date perhaps this is what might happen with humans, giving birth around 9 years old (since it appears to already be biologically possible).

i know of a woman that was a mother of 3 at 16. first kid she had at age 11.5 or 12.5.
She is now in her 40s.

myth cood have some truth to it, or very least the hostilility on earth cranks survival instinct to overdrive so to speak, and is having woman giving birth b4 they enter middle school.

the woman im mentioning grew up in a hostile area, constant gun shootings, etc.

[Buckwheat]

According to the wiki page, human lifespan has already doubled as compared to the Upper Paleolithic age:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_expec ... _over_time

So, assuming that the human species will continue to survive for a very very long time, and science/technology continues to advance leaps and bounds (complete maturity in nano-technology, stem-cell cloning and organ replacement, successful human colony on Mars and other planets, etc..), the continued trend of lifespan doubling over time is not too far-fetched. However, we need to keep in mind that if humans continue their terrible environmental abuse on planet earth, the odds of survival for our species and many others will be significantly reduced. So like the character Griffin in Men in Black III (a 5th-dimensional humanoid alien who has the ability to see all possible futures), there're 2 possible futures for us: a very long and healthy life on a healthy planet OR a short sickly life on a polluted barren planet. It's all up to us to decide..

well it shows that a 5yr generation gap is possible for humans although not going to happen any time soon unless we evolve with whatever it is that causes premature puberty now as a standard.

You're assuming the only cause is genetic. What about environmental factors?

[Cittasanto]

According to the wiki page, human lifespan has already doubled as compared to the Upper Paleolithic age:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_expec ... _over_time

So, assuming that the human species will continue to survive for a very very long time, and science/technology continues to advance leaps and bounds (complete maturity in nano-technology, stem-cell cloning and organ replacement, successful human colony on Mars and other planets, etc..), the continued trend of lifespan doubling over time is not too far-fetched. However, we need to keep in mind that if humans continue their terrible environmental abuse on planet earth, the odds of survival for our species and many others will be significantly reduced. So like the character Griffin in Men in Black III (a 5th-dimensional humanoid alien who has the ability to see all possible futures), there're 2 possible futures for us: a very long and healthy life on a healthy planet OR a short sickly life on a polluted barren planet. It's all up to us to decide..

well it shows that a 5yr generation gap is possible for humans although not going to happen any time soon unless we evolve with whatever it is that causes premature puberty now as a standard.

You're assuming the only cause is genetic. What about environmental factors?

where did I say the cause is genetic or what the cause is currently for this phenomena? But does evolution operate without genetic changes now?