Live to be a thousand years old? Seriously?
3 Questions for John De Vos, a cell therapy specialist and professor at the University of Montpellier, on the occasion of the “Assises du corps transformé” conference, which begins on October 9 in Montpellier.
What is transhumanism, the concept at the heart of this conference dedicated to the “cyber-body”?
It is a school of thought that seeks to improve the human species, particularly by extending lifespan and/or through genetic modification. This obviously sparks intense opposition, and the subject has long been taboo because it opens a Pandora’s box. While these techniques can be used to treat genetic diseases, they could also be used to enhance intelligence, height, lifespan… The key question is: for what purpose should we seek to improve the human species? Furthermore, there is a significant risk of abuse, including potential discrimination based on the genetic modifications performed…
What are the most promising approaches for extending lifespan?
These include medications, which are the subject of intensive research, as well as cell therapy. The idea is to offer regenerative medicine by injecting cells to repair organs damaged by aging. We are only at the beginning, but very promising results have been observed in animals for repairing the heart, muscles, or the brain (Parkinson’s)
So, is living to be a thousand years old possible?
We have gained 40 years of life expectancy over the past 300 years thanks to advances in hygiene and medicine, but we are now facing barriers that are harder to overcome. That said, there are prospects: in cell therapy, for example, a technique allows a patient’s cells to be reprogrammed to an embryonic stage—that is, to revert them to a stage just a few days old! This is iPS (induced pluripotent stem) cell technology. We know how to rejuvenate a cell in vitro, but we cannot yet apply this to an organ, and it is currently difficult to provide a timeline. With the exponential growth of research and the emergence of new players such as China, it is certain, in any case, that life expectancy will be extended beyond 80 years.
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The Conference on the Transformed Body,6th Edition: The Cyberbody.
Lectures – Discussions
October 9 and 10, Centre Rabelais, 29 Sarrail Blvd.
Featuring Jean-Claude Ameisen, Jacques Attali, Nicolas Bouzou, Jacques Mateu, François Vialla…
Phone: 0467 29 83 32
Registration (required) and program
The University of Montpellier is involved in organizing the Assises du corps transformé through the European Center for Studies and Research in Law and Health (UMR Dynamiques du Droit – UM, CNRS)