odds of it happening eventually, go up the longer you live.

Despite this DNA replication being highly controlled and very accurate, the sheer number of times it is performed in the lifespan of a person (estimated to be 10,000 trillion times!) means the introduction of a significant number of errors into the DNA of some of our cells from this fundamental process is inevitable. source

  • neukenindekeuken@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    15
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    5 days ago

    Yes. Your telomeres start to fray at the ends as you get older due to imperfect cell replications.

    If we could solve that we’d be effectively immortal from death due to age related issues.

      • neukenindekeuken@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        edit-2
        5 days ago

        There are ways to prevent heart related diseases caused by comorbidities. A healthy diet would still be required. Obesity increases your morbidity rate regardless of whether or not you’re getting gray hair because your telomeres are fraying.

        But, correct, if you had a genetic predisposition to a comorbidity, then you may not make it to 199, or whatever age people start dying at when some bad genetics finally catches up to them in the form of cancer (usually).

    • BakerBagel@midwest.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      5 days ago

      Telomere also don’t matter when replication enzymes add a random adenosine into a gene that controls genetic proofreading.