Kathmandu. When does a person die? It’s a mysterious question. To which no one has been able to answer till date. However, something has happened in the world of science and technology, which brings us very close to unraveling this mystery.
Scientists have developed a device. By analyzing a person’s genome, he can estimate his biological age and how long his body lasts.
The study, led by researchers from Harvard Medical School and Tohoku University in Japan, was published in the journal Nature. This new technology is considered a major step towards turning science fiction into reality.
Is this the new ‘transcriptomic clock’ device?
To develop the device, the scientists analysed nearly 11,000 gene expression profiles, or transcriptomes, from four different species of mice, another species of mice, rhesus macaque monkeys and humans. They examined 25 different tissues. It sought to understand which genes are active or inactive during age-related changes.
What is the difference between this new technology and the old invention?
Scientists have previously used epigenetic clocks to determine age. Older technology relied mainly on chemical changes in DNA caused by time and stress, such as the methylation process. It examined regions of DNA. Where guanine is next to the cytosine nucleotide.
The old technology didn’t always give the right results
Joao Pedro de Magalhães, an expert at the University of Birmingham in the UK, said that earlier transcriptomic biomarkers lacked precision. However, the precision and accuracy achieved in this new study rivaled the precision and accuracy of the old epigenetic clocks. It provides a more accurate picture of what is happening inside the human body.
Signs of longevity or early death from cells
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During the study, scientists found many interesting things. They observed that whether it was immune cells, stem cells, liver cells or muscle cells, they all underwent the same molecular changes as they aged.
The study’s lead author, Alexander Tishkovsky, explained that cells with active genes associated with healthy cell division and wound healing were aging slowly. In contrast, cells with more active genes associated with inflammation and cell death were aging and dying faster. Based on the behavior of these genes in humans, it was possible to predict when a person will die in the future.
A major revolution in medicine and medicine
Vadim Gladyshev, the study’s senior author, said that these “aging clocks” could completely transform future treatment methods. With their help, doctors will be able to personalize treatment according to the patient’s biological age. The biggest advantage will be in clinical trials of drugs.
Scientists usually have to wait years or decades to see the effects of anti-aging drugs or therapies. However, with this transcriptomic clock, scientists will be able to see the effects of a particular treatment on the body’s biomarkers in a much shorter time. This would significantly shorten the timeline for clinical trials in mice and humans. Serious diseases can be treated more quickly.
Will it predict the exact date of death?
Scientists have clarified that this device is currently only a research tool. More tests are needed before it can be directly commercially used in humans. Moreover, the device can only predict natural aging and death due to disease.
It cannot predict road accidents, disasters or sudden events. However, this technology can tell us with certainty how healthy our body is internally and how long our body can live if it is not interfered with by disease or external factors. –Agency
