Found: genes that let you live to 100

SCIENTISTS have discovered the “Methuselah” genes whose lucky carriers have a much improved chance of living to 100 even if they indulge in an unhealthy lifestyle.

The genes appear to protect people against the effects of smoking and bad diet and can also delay the onset of age-related illnesses such as cancer and heart disease by up to three decades.

No single gene is a guaranteed fountain of youth. Instead, the secret of longevity probably lies in having the right “suite” of genes, according to new studies of centenarians and their families. Such combinations are extremely rare — only one person in 10,000 reaches the age of 100.

The genes found so far each appear to give a little extra protection against the diseases of old age. Centenarians appear to have a high chance of having several such genes embedded in their DNA.

via Found: genes that let you live to 100 – Times Online.

Molecules that behave like robots created

In a breakthrough study, researchers have created and programmed robots the size of single molecule that can move independently across a nano-scale track.

The development, by Researchers from Columbia University, Arizona State University, the University of Michigan and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), marks an important advancement in the nascent fields of molecular computing and robotics.

And the feat could someday lead to molecular robots that can fix individual cells or assemble nanotechnology products.

Led by Milan N. Stojanovic, the project involved reprogramming DNA molecules to perform in specific ways.

“Can you instruct a biomolecule to move and function in a certain way–researchers at the interface of computer science, chemistry, biology and engineering are attempting to do just that,” Nature quoted Mitra Basu as saying.

Recent molecular robotics work has produced so-called DNA walkers, or strings of reprogrammed DNA with ”legs” that enabled them to briefly walk.

Now the researchers has shown these molecular robotic spiders can in fact move autonomously through a specially-created, two-dimensional landscape.

The spiders acted in rudimentary robotic ways, showing they are capable of starting motion, walking for awhile, turning, and stopping.

In addition to be incredibly small–about 4 nanometers in diameter–the walkers are also move slowly, covering 100 nanometers in times ranging 30 minutes to a full hour by taking approximately 100 steps.

This is a significant improvement over previous DNA walkers that were capable of only about three steps.

While the field of molecular robotics is still emerging, it is possible that these tiny creations may someday have important medical applications.

“This work one day may lead to effective control of chronic diseases such as diabetes or cancer,” said Basu.

The study was published in the latest edition of the journal Nature.

via Molecules that behave like robots created.

I do goes high-tech with Japan robot priest

The groom looked dashing, his bride resplendent in white, but all eyes in this Japanese wedding were on the priest, a four-foot tall robot with colourful, flashing eyes called i-Fairy.

The robot is usually used in museum and exhibitions to direct visitors, but with the help of a flower headpiece, and a new programme, it pronounced Satoko Inoue and Tomohiro Shibata man and wife at a Sunday ceremony.

The event is being billed as the first ever wedding presided over by a robot, a fitting marriage for the couple who met through the machines.

The bride, Inoue, works for the company that makes the i-Fairy, and her husband, Shibata, is a client.

“It’s true that robots are what caused us to first begin going out, and as suggested by my wife, we decided that we wanted to try this sort of wedding,” Shibata said after making his vows.

After saying “I do”, the bride said that she wanted to use her wedding to show people that robots can easily fit into their daily lives.

“I always felt that robots would become more integrated into people’s everyday lives. This cute robot is part of my company, I decided that I would love to have it at my ceremony,” Inoue said.

Makers of the robot, Kokoro Ltd, said that while they are still selling the i-Fairy with the stated purpose of helping visitors, they’re happy for the machine to help weddings cross the digital divide.

Japan is home to almost half the world’s 800,000 industrial robots and expects the industry to expand to $10 billion.

It is also one of the world’s fastest ageing societies and experts say robots can help care for the growing number of elderly, and fill in for the lack of young people willing to take on jobs as chefs, cleaners or caretakers.

via I do goes high-tech with Japan robot priest | Technology | Reuters.

Iowa court orders relatives to exhume body of man who wanted his head cryogenically frozen – WQAD

The Iowa Court of Appeals has ordered the relatives of a deceased Burlington man to exhume his body so his head can be cut off and cryogenically frozen.

The court sided with Alcor Life Extension Foundation of Scottsdale, Ariz., which sought to dig up the remains of 81-year-old Orville Richardson, who died in February 2009.

Richardson had signed a contract with Alcor to have his head placed in cryonic suspension. When he died, Richardson’s brother and sister buried him instead.

Alcor filed a lawsuit to exhume Richardson’s body but a Des Moines Country District Court judge ruled against the company, which appealed.

The appeals court overturned the district court’s decision Wednesday, saying Alcor was entitled to his remains.

Telephone messages left for attorneys in the case were not immediately returned.

via Iowa court orders relatives to exhume body of man who wanted his head cryogenically frozen – WQAD.