I just received this
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News Alert from The Wall Street Journal
By analyzing the heredity of the world's oldest people, Boston University scientists said Thursday they have discovered a genetic signature of longevity. And they expect soon to offer a free test that could let people learn whether they have it in themselves to live to a very old age. The new finding demonstrates that subtle variations in many genes may be responsible for some differences in life spans, offering complex patterns of protection against the ravages of normal aging.
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Seriously, who wants to know this? Will knowing the potential limit of your lifespan increase your likelihood to live any better...will you put things off because you believe you have more time? Will you burn through your money because you don't? Will you make decisions based upon this little genetic test that will dramatically change the course of your life?
Isn't it better to live in the now? rather than in the know?
3 comments:
I am totally not interested in finding out. It just doesn't make any sense.
I'm torn on this question, which indicates it must be a good one. In some ways I'd like to go. On the other hand, if I were to learn I was going to snuff it in the next year I'd be distraught.
I think since it is just a general thing I would be interested. When you don't know much about your relatives (adoptees for instance) it might be good to know, too. It's not like it is definitive, although some crazies might spend all their money by 70 and then live until 85!
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