The aging process is thought to be initiated at the cellular level. Among the changes that can occur after a certain number of cell divisions is the loss of a cell's ability to respond to growth factors and other signals. Much research into aging is aimed at understanding such losses, with the ultimate goal of extending the human life span. Not everyone, however, agrees that this is a desirable goal. If life expectancy were greatly increased, what might be the social and ecological consequences?

Question

Shea Monroe

Biology

11 March, 03:08

The aging process is thought to be initiated at the cellular level. Among the changes that can occur after a certain number of cell divisions is the loss of a cell's ability to respond to growth factors and other signals. Much research into aging is aimed at understanding such losses, with the ultimate goal of extending the human life span. Not everyone, however, agrees that this is a desirable goal. If life expectancy were greatly increased, what might be the social and ecological consequences?

+1

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Zain Pruitt · Answer 1

Enhancement in the life expectancy of humans can exhibit certain unwanted outcomes that could affect the quality of life. Some of the probable social and ecological outcomes due to an increase in life expectancy are:

Social: Greater life expectancy would signify that the age of employment would get extended. As an outcome, the older individuals would hold the seats for a longer duration, leaving only some seats for the young. This would influence the life quality and development of the young.

Due to the increase in life expectancy, there would be an elevation in the demand for basic needs, and increased consumption of food increased utilization of land, and larger population. The use of global resources would increase by humans, therefore, declining the resources at a greater rate. Hence, overall, the ratio of the old to the young would get influenced, and therefore, the quality of life would get affected.

Ecological: With longer life expectancy, there will be an enhanced burden of human species on the planet Earth. Due to this, the balance between the humans and the other species would get disturbed. Human activities have been substantially related to the issues of global warming, issues of deforestation, endangering of other species resulting in ecological imbalance.

Enhancement in the life expectancy of humans would cause further destruction of endangered species and huge imbalance in the ecosystems that would eventually influence life of human beings. Therefore, ecological in combination with socioeconomic influence of greater life expectancy incline towards reduced quality of life, and it is not desirable.