Could we live 40 years longer? The gene merchants think so

And why not modify our bodies with the gene that enables polar bears to keep warm in winter?

CRAIG VENTER, the scientist who first mapped the human genome in 2007 and created synthetic life in 2010, announced last week the creation of his new company, Human Longevity Inc, with the stated goal of "extending and enhancing the healthy, high-performance lifespan and change the face of ageing”. His co-founder Peter Diamandis said: "Our goal is to make 100-years-old the new 60."

The means by which they and their colleague Robert Hariri will do this? "Cell-based therapeutics, genomics and stem cell therapies.” In other words, redesigning our DNA.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Edie Lush is a journalist and communications coach. She is executive editor of Hub Culture and has been associate editor of Spectator Business, a political analyst for Hedge Fund Omega Partners and UBS, and a reporter for Bloomberg Television.