Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 1998 , Vol 1, Issue 1
The Evolutionary Tale of Aging and Death
Ali DEMÄ°RSOY
Hacettepe Üniversitesi Beytepe Kampusü Fen Fakültesi, Biyoloji Bölümü-ANKARA In this article, the story of the transition from RNA to DNA molecules; to procaryotes, eucaryotes, multi-cells and to the formation of memory is given. During the establishment of cells and tissue organisations, the participating structures (mitochongria), novel formations (telomere) and the relation between the resulting cell-tissue differentiation (in nerve cells) and ageing or death is examined. The positive effect of the mechanism of death on the evolutionary development, following its establishment in the world of living, is discussed. The positive aspects of diversity on natural selection, both at gametic and zygotic levels, as the asexual reproduction is replaced by the sexual, which means the establishment of meiosis in the world of living, is emphasized. In addition, what causes the ova to be the only source of sexual, which means the establishment of meiosis in the world of living, is emphasized. In addition, what causes the ova be the only source of mitochondria is also examined in gerontological (biology of ageing) point of view. The reason for the differences in life spans, the death genes and the programmed death, 'Apoptosis', are mentioned. The negative effects of interactions in the life process like the high temperature, UV and other high-energy radiations, intracellular free radicals and mainly insecticides or other unnatural chemicals, on ageing, and finally, the negative effects of the destructions in both mitochondria and nuclear DNA and also probable translocations on the life spans are studied. Consequently, the comments and projections on the probable developments concerning the ageing and death which are expected in the corning years and centuries are presented. Keywords : Ageing, Evolution, Mitochondria, Telomere, Meiosis, Apoptosis