Question 1

Recent research is investigating the role of inflammation in a variety of aging related diseases.

Accepted Answer

Yes, recent research is investigating the role of inflammation in a variety of aging related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and even cancer.

Question 2

Although cultural stereotypes suggest that women are more biologically fragile than men, the Gompertz law indicates that women and men are equally likely to die.

Accepted Answer

The Gompertz law, which describes the age-specific mortality rate, indicates that women generally have lower mortality rates at most ages compared to men, not that they are equally likely to die. This contributes to the observed phenomenon that women, on average, live longer than men.

Question 3

According to Hayflick, when does aging begin?
A) at conception
B) at birth
C) following the reproductive period
D) when the animal becomes independent of its parents
E) none of these

Accepted Answer

Aging begins following the reproductive period, according to Hayflick.

Question 4

According to Fries and Crapo, average life expectancy has increased while life span has remained the same.

Accepted Answer

Fries and Crapo distinguish between life expectancy, which is the average number of years a person is expected to live, and life span, which is the maximum number of years a person could potentially live. They argue that life expectancy has increased due to improvements in healthcare and nutrition, but life span has remained relatively constant.

Question 5

According to de Grey, the therapies being developed by the SENS (Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence) project to prevent and cure aging will be available for mice in ______ years and for humans in ______ years.
A) 50, 75
B) 50, 50
C) 25, 25
D) 25, 20
E) 10, 20

Accepted Answer

De Grey has suggested that therapies from the SENS project could be available for mice in 10 years and for humans in 20 years.

Question 6

Hayflick likens aging to the ticking on of a cheap watch that eventually results in its failure

Accepted Answer

Hayflick did indeed use the analogy of a cheap watch ticking towards failure to describe the aging process.

Question 7

The time-dependent biological process that involves functional loss and susceptibility to disease and death is called ______.
A) the Gompertz law
B) normal aging
C) successful aging
D) the wear-and-tear theory of aging
E) the Hayflick limit

Accepted Answer

Normal aging involves a gradual decline in physiological function, increased susceptibility to disease, and eventual death. The Gompertz law describes the exponential increase in mortality rate as individuals age, and the wear-and-tear theory of aging suggests that accumulated damage to cells and tissues over time leads to aging. Successful aging is often characterized by maintaining physical and cognitive function and avoiding disease and disability, while the Hayflick limit refers to the limited number of times cells can divide before undergoing senescence.

Question 8

The maximum human life span is approximately ______.
A) 77 years
B) 82 years
C) 100 years
D) 120 years
E) 150 years

Accepted Answer

The current scientific understanding is that the maximum human life span is around 120 years. While some individuals may live beyond this age, it is incredibly rare and not seen as a norm for the general population. Therefore, choice D, 120 years, is the most accurate answer.

Question 9

Like other biomedical goals, discovering the processes that cause aging or determine our life span would have a strictly positive value.

Accepted Answer

Discovering the processes that cause aging or determine our lifespan can have both positive and negative implications. Positively, it could lead to treatments that extend healthy life. Negatively, it could lead to ethical, social, and economic issues, such as overpopulation or unequal access to life-extending technologies.

Question 10

According to Hayflick, scientists have made significant progress during the last century in uncovering the fundamental cause of aging.

Accepted Answer

Hayflick argued that while there have been advances in understanding the biological processes of aging, the fundamental cause of aging remains elusive and not fully understood.

Question 11

The Hayflick Limit refers to which of the following processes?
A) HeLa cells continue to divide and grow.
B) Normal human cells grown in tissue culture go through a limited number of cell divisions.
C) Aging is regulated by glandular cells, perhaps of the hypothalamus, thymus, or pituitary gland.
D) Waste products and other harmful substances build up in the cells.
E) None of these.

Accepted Answer

The Hayflick Limit refers to the observation made by Leonard Hayflick that normal human cells grown in tissue culture will only divide a finite number of times before entering a state of senescence, or irreversible growth arrest. This limit is thought to be due to the shortening of telomeres, the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, with each cell division. Choice A is incorrect because HeLa cells are derived from a cancerous cervical tumor and have an unlimited potential for growth and division. Choice C is misleading because although glandular cells may play a role in aging, the Hayflick Limit specifically refers to cell division. Choice D is not directly related to the Hayflick Limit.

Question 12

Many biologists believe that aging may be explained by a single cause.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many biologists believe that aging may be...

Question 13

According to the cellular theory of aging, which of the following processes occur?
A) Free radical damage eventually gives rise to the symptoms we know as aging.
B) Cross-linking compounds in the collagen begin to accumulate and eventually impair cellular function.
C) The body's immune system begins to weaken and can no longer distinguish between bodily tissues and foreign tissues.
D) The capacity for cell division weakens over time.
E) None of these.

Accepted Answer

The cellular theory of aging suggests that the capacity for cell division weakens over time, leading to the symptoms of aging. Free radical damage (A) and cross-linking of collagen compounds (B) are also factors in aging, but they are not part of the cellular theory. The body's immune system weakening (C) is part of the immunological theory of aging.

Question 14

Research in the area of cryobiology has found that raising and maintaining a higher body temperature can increase the life span in fruit flies and some vertebrates.

Accepted Answer

Research in the area of cryobiology has actually found that lowering the body temperature can increase the life span in some organisms, such as certain species of fish and frogs. The idea that raising body temperature can increase lifespan is a popular myth and is not supported by scientific evidence.

Question 15

The maximum life span for a species is unalterable.

Accepted Answer

The maximum lifespan for a species can be influenced by factors such as genetics, environment, and advancements in medical care, suggesting it is not strictly unalterable.

Question 16

According to Fries and Crapo, all of the following are true except ______.
A) The number of extremely old persons will increase.
B) The percentage of a typical life spent in dependency will decrease.
C) The period of adult vigor will be prolonged.
D) The need for intensive medical care will decrease.
E) The cost of medical care will decrease.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Fries and Crapo, all of...

Question 17

Which of the following are considered to be "wear-and-tear" theories of aging?
A) somatic mutation theory of aging
B) error accumulation theory of aging
C) accumulative waste theory of aging
D) all of these
E) a and b

Accepted Answer

The "wear-and-tear" theories of aging include the somatic mutation theory, error accumulation theory, and accumulative waste theory. These theories suggest that aging results from damage or errors that accumulate over time in the body.

Question 18

Explanations for the improvement in functioning of current cohorts of older persons include ______.
A) increases in the educational levels of newer cohorts of elders
B) decreases in the frequency of obesity
C) improvements in medical interventions
D) all of these
E) both a and c

Accepted Answer

Increases in educational levels and improvements in medical interventions are both factors that contribute to the improved functioning of current cohorts of older persons.

Question 19

"Compression of morbidity" refers to which of the following processes?
A) the acceleration of the inverse relationship of morbidity and mortality
B) when illness is pushed further into old age
C) an increase in the maximum life span
D) whenever the natural life span is exceeded
E) none of these

Accepted Answer

Compression of morbidity refers to a process where the onset of age-related illness and disability is delayed, resulting in a shorter period of time at the end of life when individuals are unhealthy. This means that people live longer without suffering from chronic diseases or severe disabilities. Thus, option B, when illness is pushed further into old age, is the correct choice. The other options are not related to the concept of compression of morbidity.

Question 20

Over the 20th century, both life expectancy and life span increased.

Accepted Answer

Life expectancy increased significantly over the 20th century due to improvements in public health, nutrition, and medicine, but the maximum lifespan (the oldest age to which humans can live) has not shown significant changes.

Quiz 2: Why Do Our Bodies Grow Old

Recent research is investigating the role of inflammation in a variety of aging related diseases.

Although cultural stereotypes suggest that women are more biologically fragile than men, the Gompertz law indicates that women and men are equally likely to die.

According to Hayflick, when does aging begin?

According to Fries and Crapo, average life expectancy has increased while life span has remained the same.

According to de Grey, the therapies being developed by the SENS (Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence) project to prevent and cure aging will be available for mice in years and for humans in years.

Hayflick likens aging to the ticking on of a cheap watch that eventually results in its failure

The time-dependent biological process that involves functional loss and susceptibility to disease and death is called ______.

The maximum human life span is approximately ______.

Like other biomedical goals, discovering the processes that cause aging or determine our life span would have a strictly positive value.

According to Hayflick, scientists have made significant progress during the last century in uncovering the fundamental cause of aging.

The Hayflick Limit refers to which of the following processes?

Many biologists believe that aging may be explained by a single cause.

According to the cellular theory of aging, which of the following processes occur?

Research in the area of cryobiology has found that raising and maintaining a higher body temperature can increase the life span in fruit flies and some vertebrates.

The maximum life span for a species is unalterable.

According to Fries and Crapo, all of the following are true except ______.

Which of the following are considered to be "wear-and-tear" theories of aging?

Explanations for the improvement in functioning of current cohorts of older persons include ______.

"Compression of morbidity" refers to which of the following processes?

Over the 20th century, both life expectancy and life span increased.