Essay On Blood And Longevity

1094 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Biomedical importance of stem cells

Blood and bone marrow hold the key to health and longevity?
—Well, possibly, but not now.

Nowadays, our world is facing a growing problem—the world population is ageing rapidly. WHO (2012) states that the world population over 60 years old will double from 605 million to 2 billion in the coming 50 years. Then here comes the question: what is the key to longevity and health? People want to live longer and healthier and it seems that there is a belief that stem cells in blood and bone marrow can help to achieve this goal. But, it is true? Or is it just an unproved belief that the magical stem cells can fix everything? And I shall explain these in this essay.

We have heard beliefs that blood can keep one’s youth and vitality, like stories of Erzsébet Báthory (The Blood Countess). Of course, these stories are unreliable, but nowadays it seems that the key to longevity and health may truly lie inside blood and bone marrow. It is because inside our blood and bone marrow, there are not just red blood cells, but more importantly the stem cells.

In today’s researches, it is found that stem cells in bone marrow and blood, including peripheral and cord blood, have the ability to self-renew, differentiate into any kind of cells and proliferate. All these abilities point to stem cells’ function to maintain and repair tissues. And this function of stem cells seems can be used to overcome ageing, which is damaging of the tissues.

Ageing can be explained in two theories: the evolutionary-based theory and the damage-based theory. In the evolutionary-based theory, it is suggested that some genes will express harmfulness in the later age (Rando, 2006; Liang & Van Zant, 2008). So, in the later age, the body will generally be damaged and...

... middle of paper ...

...18542247?accountid=14548

Panno, J. (2009). Aging: theories and potential therapies. Infobase Publishing. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzEzOTg5MV9fQU41?sid=0f61fe91-1575-4ddf-a926-7536ec8ffba2@sessionmgr4005&vid=1&format=EB&lpid=lp_1&rid=0

Phillips, R. L., Reinhart, A. J., & Van Zant, G. (1992). Genetic control of murine hematopoietic stem cell pool sizes and cycling kinetics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 89(23), 11607-11611.

Rando, T. A. (2006). Stem cells, ageing and the quest for immortality. Nature, 441(7097), 1080-1086.

Simopoulos, A. P., & van Itallie, T. B. (1984). Body Weight, Health, and Longevity. Annals Of Internal Medicine, 100(2), 285.

World Health Organization. (2012, March 28). Interesting facts about ageing. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/ageing/about/facts/en/

Show More
Related

  • Importance Of Chinese Food

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    cuisines have some differences too. Chinese cuisine consists of two main components, that is, carbohydrate sources and starch. On the other hand, Indian food is as diverse as its culture. (Comparison Between Indian And Chinese Culture Cultural Studies Essay, 2013). The primary utensil used in Chinese culture for cooking is chopsticks for solid food and spoons for soups whereas in India people generally use their hands for eating. Indian food has developed on the basis of its two prominent religions: Hinduism

    Read More

  • Altruism And The Giver Essay

    1192 Words  | 3 Pages

    behaviours are linked with greater well-being, health and longevity (Stephen, 2005). In this context altruism is defined as self-less giving without thinking about what you get in return and pro-social behaviours are acts that positively impact others well-being. Indeed, previous studies show a strong correlation between the well-being, happiness, health and longevity of people who are emotionally and behaviourally compassionate (Stephen, 2005). This essay argues that altruism and prosocial behaviours have

    Read More

  • Biomedical Science: Personal Statement

    613 Words  | 2 Pages

    The application of the principles biomedical science is a pivotal component, if not the cornerstone of the modern healthcare setting; which has greatly impacted the longevity of humanity. The discoveries and advances made in this field, bolstered my motivation and passion to study biomedical science, not only to develop my understanding of the complexity of the human body and its process’ but also to potentially play a role in improving the lives of others; as well as answering some of the complex

    Read More

  • Summary Of A Life Worth Ending By Michael Wolff

    1963 Words  | 4 Pages

    (Wolff 219). The question I’m sure we all fear, but we all must answer. In Michael Wolff’s “A life Worth Ending” he brilliantly writes about prolonging the life of his dying mother, and the issues that come as a consequence. He writes, “By promoting longevity and technologically inhibiting death, we have created a new biological status held by an ever-growing part of the nation, a no-exit state that persists longer and longer, one that is nearly as remote for life as death, but which, unlike death requires

    Read More

  • Persuasive Speech On Vegetarianism

    1220 Words  | 3 Pages

    way of life, it’s what you’ve always known. Let’s face it, when the food is one your plate, your mind is focused on how scrumptious it will be. What if I told you that eliminating meat from your diet will actually enhance your life? Quality and longevity, and your vegetarian friends want you to be around as long as they will be! That’s right, eating a diet void of meat has a lower mortality risk. It has been shown that people who live a vegetarian lifestyle tend to have a lower BMI, something desirable

    Read More

  • Ecclesia De Eucharistia Description

    1688 Words  | 4 Pages

    Eucharistia, presented on Holy Thursday, Pope John Paul II discusses in depth the Eucharist, its importance in history and future, the magnitude it had on the Church and faith as well as the significance of its continuation for the church and mankind. This essay will begin to summarize this encyclical as well as shed light on what inspired and influenced its creation and why it should be considered for today and for the future generations of man. To begin, we must first explain and summarize the true meaning

    Read More

  • Summary Of Limiting Science: A Biologist's Perspective By David Baltimore

    1593 Words  | 4 Pages

    Both essays agreed on this point. Baltimore et al informs us that “genome engineering technology offers unparalleled potential for modifying human and nonhuman genomes. In humans, it holds the promise of curing genetic disease, while in other organisms it provides methods to reshape the biosphere for the benefit of the environment and human societies” (par. 1). David Baltimore elaborates on this idea by sharing some other uses of genetic engineering when he says, “many instances of blood disorders

    Read More

  • Health is Beauty

    1508 Words  | 4 Pages

    practice of essential oils varies throughout cultures, one fact remains; scented oils have miraculously proven to have healing effects upon the body, mind, and soul. This essay compares and reflects on the different uses of essences throughout history but does not provide an in-depth discussion on targeted regions. The focus of this essay is to briefly compare and analyze similarities between Ayurveda and Chinese medicine while proving its efficacy, however, the difference in cultural influence of cosmetics

    Read More

  • A Comparison of Second Coming and World Is Too Much with Us

    1444 Words  | 3 Pages

    Future in Second Coming and World Is Too Much with Us The world is changing and evolving at an astounding rate. Within the last one hundred years, the Western community has seen advances in technology and medicine that has improved the lifestyles and longevity of almost every individual. Within the last two hundred years, we have seen two World Wars, and countless disputes over false borders created by colonialists, slavery, and every horrid form of human suffering imaginable! Human lifestyles and cultures

    Read More

  • Louis XIV, An Absolute Absolutism

    1541 Words  | 4 Pages

    a formidable figure, in control of both the largest standing army in Europe at that time and highly complicated political system, for which he has been hailed as the propagator of “early modern state building”. His reign and in particular the longevity of his reign have frequently been questioned. E.H Kossman described Louis’s reign as “absolutism in its most perfect form”, while Briggs argued that “the absolutism of Louis XIV was often little more than a façade, behind which many of the old limitations

    Read More

  • Summary Of Sorry Vegans By Christopher Wanjek

    1273 Words  | 3 Pages

    articles from live science, a website that reports extraordinary evolution in the fields of science. I have accumulated several articles agreeing with part of this article and disagreeing with the other half. Some ideas will we getting debunked in this essay. Two arguments are being presented in this article, one is that meat is one of the factors which made our brain expand and the second one is that cooked food is the other factor. After thoroughly researching this topic I have come to the conclusion

    Read More

  • The Midwife’s Role in Informing Pregnant Women of the Importance of Folic Acid

    1933 Words  | 4 Pages

    Nutrients are absorbed in the body and this physiological process is essential for homeostasis and ensuring equilibrium is sustained within the body as without enough food and drink the body will not function correctly (Edwards & Thomas, 2009). This essay will provide information on folic acid and its properties, its role and the midwife’s role and responsibility in informing women in the early stages of pregnancy and the importance that it has. An ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, believed that

    Read More

  • Racism and Ethnicity Issues in Morrison, O´Connor, and Kingston´s Novels

    1765 Words  | 4 Pages

    The central problem in Flannery O’Connor’s story, “Everything That Rises Must Converge”, Maxine Hong Kingston’s “The Woman Warrior”, and Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif”, revolve on the issue of race. Morrison and O’Connor focus on the theme of race specifically between blacks and whites in America. It could be said that Kingston’s “The Woman Warrior” concentrates on the racial difference between Asian and Caucasian but race is not made to be a big issue in this novel, since almost all of the characters

    Read More

  • Analysis of Coca Cola Company

    2711 Words  | 6 Pages

    United States, as Coca Cola’s international headquarters, has one of the largest populations where Coke is the main beverage for most of the consumers. The purpose of this essay is to determine whether the environmental changes in the United States are beneficial for Coca Cola Company to operate more markets in the future. This essay will explore both the Coca Cola Company as well as the market in the United States. The tools used for this examination include a SWOT analysis of Coca Cola Company and

    Read More

  • Coaching and Performance Management

    3111 Words  | 7 Pages

    delicate manner to engage in the conversation that something issues need to change. What is the definition of coaching when working with adults in a workplace? Do managers need to be coached on how to coach? These are items will be addressed in this essay for anyone who is in or is planning on being in a managerial role. All the skills needed to provide a safe and healthy work environment for every employee. The good news is that you can get your managers to buy in to the Pygmalion effect it can increase

    Read More

More about Essay On Blood And Longevity

Open Document