8 Weird Ways Humans Are Trying Prolong Their Lives

2. Genetic Tweaking

It may be fashionable for us to seek out the most natural possible ways of living long and healthy lives, but the power of genetic modification looks like humanity's best bet yet for extending our lifespans by a noteworthy amount of time. Up until 2012, there had already been plenty of experiments carried out on animal embryos, altering their genetic make-up so that they aged slower. However, in 2012 a study at the Centre of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy in Barcelona managed to successfully inject a DNA-modified virus into living mice, extending their lifespans by 24% on average. The virus injected into the mice was made up of the telomerase enzyme, which is responsible for regenerating telomeres - the protective sheaths on the ends of human chromosomes which degenerate as we grow older. The increase of telomerase in the mice effectively slowed their biological clocks. The study also found that mice treated when they were younger lived longer than those treated when they were older, so if you're reading this then you're not likely to reap the full benefits of this potentially groundbreaking genetic therapy. Sorry about that...