[Ben Aldhouse (OP)]

Listening to a recent episode in which Chris and Kat describe a commercial service for somehow storing individuals' immune systems I was reminded of a recent documentary I saw about Aubrey de Grey. Aubrey de Grey apparently has proposed technique(s) for vastly increasing human life span and has fans including people such as Ray Kurzweil and Marvin Minsky.

I could certainly do with a few more hundred years in order to give me time to actually start doing some of the things I really want to do - However, would having that time just make me an even worse procrastinator?

I was wondering what other people thought about Dr de Grey, his work and its implications.

[another_someone]

I am generally concerned that the tendency for ever increasing human lifespan, while probably being helpful in increasing human knowledge and intellect (the longer you live, the more you can accumulate and use knowledge), is nonetheless imposing ever greater risk upon the species (most of the long lived species, such as turtles, and yew trees, are the species that are most greatly under threat as they are genetically, and in terms of population size, least able to adapt to a rapidly changing environment - whereas fast breeding animals, such as rodents, are far more adaptable).

[Ben Aldhouse (OP)]

There would be horrendous ethical problems arising as the population grows and resources dwindle - but who wouldn't give up an opportunity to live longer?