Aging as a Genetic Process in essays

Aging as a Genetic Process in essays There are several theories on aging in humans due to genetics. There are four main theories involving genetics and these are the wear and tear theory, the free radical theory, cross-linking theory and somatic mutation theory. Aging is defined as The process of growing old or maturing. Most of these theories follow that though some sort of damage to the DNA other parts of the cell, the cell dies with leads to the human body to age. These theories are not all proved to be correct some people believe that some are better then others as there is no known reason for aging in genetics. The cross-linked theory of aging, this theory follows the basis of that with age, the proteins in our body, our DNA and other structural molecules in our cells develop over time inappropriate attachments or a more appropriate name cross-linked. These bonds can inhibit protein enzymes breaking them down so these damaged (cross-linked) proteins stick around. As they are in the cell and cannot be broken down, they can then cause problems and therefore they can lead to cell damage, which can lead to aging. For example cross-linking of the protein collagen ahs been shown to cause wrinkles which is a common sign of aging. If cross-linking occurs in the DNA, then when the DNA is used to produce proteins and other things it will produce the wrong ones or be deleted which will cause aging too. This theory however is not very favoured as the direct physical (experimental) evidence at this time is not very conclusive that this is the primary cause of aging. The wear and tear theory of aging suggests however that the due to years of damage to cells, tissues and organs, which wears them out and eventually, kills them. This can be especially be seen in the liver fro damage due to alcohol. On a DNA level, it sustains damage from a wide range of toxins, ultraviolet light and radiation. DNA can be repaired but not all can be repaired or sometimes the repair c ...