Penguinisto opened this issue on Dec 04, 2006 · 175 posts
XENOPHONZ posted Wed, 06 December 2006 at 1:13 PM
Quote - I just quickly perused the link, but I sincerely (as in skeptical, scientific backing) doubt that any human has ever lived more than 120-something years. To make it to 100 is 1 in a million. To make it to 110 is 1 is 500 million. To make it to 120 is 1 in a billion (or so). 200+ is 1 in several trillion (chance more than all humans - homo sapiens sapiens - that have ever existed and will exist for the next several centuries). Such longetivity has never been recorded scientifically in all history (only in fairy tales and myths - see Bible).
Why? It has nothing to do with eating yogurt religiously or being religiously yogurted. In every cell is a genome based on DNA which has a little timer (Teleromase). As cells die and reproduce, the number of these decrease. When these are exhausted, the cells no longer reproduce. If there is a possible 'fountain of youth', it is directly linked to that. This doesn't take into account other internal/external factors, but it is a rather hard wall on human longetivity.
I'll believe that someone can live to 122, but not to 207! ;)
I don't have any links at the moment. Perhaps I'll do a google later. But I have seen some articles in the last year or two in which certain medical authorities (the AMA?) stated that a lifespan of 200 years for human beings is theoretically possible. So I wouldn't just dismiss the story.
I've also seen some recent data elsewhere about the 207-year-old Englishman. Unfortunately, I can't research it to find out where right now, as I'm at my office. IIRC, the official records involved were some contemporaneous church birth, death & baptismal records, as well as tales from people who actually knew the man. He raised more than one family, and he outlived his great-grandchildren. The other article also gave the man's name.
I might do a little looking later. It's interesting enough to follow-up.
BTW - this little OT reference was in conjunction with the fact that Van Gogh's work was considered to be virtually worthless by his contemporaries. The elderly woman's personal assessment of Van Gogh sort of provides a hint as to why the negative attitude towards him prevailed during his own lifetime.
It's much easier to admire / idealize someone who you don't actually know. Even if Leonard Nimoy claims to be the reincarnation of Van Gogh.