Venki Ramakrishnan

And that, I would have thought that was almost science fiction, but recently in the last few years, a number of papers have come out doing exactly this in mice. And showing that the symptoms of aging have improved in these mice. But of course, reprogramming cells raises the risk of cancer. It also raises the risk of how do you do this in a body in a holistic way?

And that, I would have thought that was almost science fiction, but recently in the last few years, a number of papers have come out doing exactly this in mice. And showing that the symptoms of aging have improved in these mice. But of course, reprogramming cells raises the risk of cancer. It also raises the risk of how do you do this in a body in a holistic way?

Because our different organs age at different rates. And how do you ensure a kind of systemic recovery? rejuvenation, if you like. I think people don't like that word. Some people like it. Just to popularize it. So it's a challenging but hard problem. It's another way to maybe tackle some aspects of aging.

Because our different organs age at different rates. And how do you ensure a kind of systemic recovery? rejuvenation, if you like. I think people don't like that word. Some people like it. Just to popularize it. So it's a challenging but hard problem. It's another way to maybe tackle some aspects of aging.

It's unlikely to, although that also has a real scientific basis. And many decades ago, people actually connected a young mouse with an old mouse.

It's unlikely to, although that also has a real scientific basis. And many decades ago, people actually connected a young mouse with an old mouse.

By connecting their blood systems together. And some decades ago, people found that actually the old mouse benefited from the young blood And the young mouse actually deteriorated as a result of the old blood. And so this was an amazing finding and, of course, raised all sorts of questions like what's going on in blood and what are the factors in blood.

By connecting their blood systems together. And some decades ago, people found that actually the old mouse benefited from the young blood And the young mouse actually deteriorated as a result of the old blood. And so this was an amazing finding and, of course, raised all sorts of questions like what's going on in blood and what are the factors in blood.

Maybe there are factors that prevent damage or factors that cause damage in old blood or maybe activate stem cells in young blood. There could be a number of scenarios. And so there's a huge field that's looking for these factors and trying to identify what is different about young and old blood. And of course, of the many differences, not all of them will be relevant.

Maybe there are factors that prevent damage or factors that cause damage in old blood or maybe activate stem cells in young blood. There could be a number of scenarios. And so there's a huge field that's looking for these factors and trying to identify what is different about young and old blood. And of course, of the many differences, not all of them will be relevant.

So they have to figure out which factors are actually relevant to aging. And then they have to find out how they work. And then they have to figure out if they could actually use it in some therapeutic way. But the amazing thing is as soon as this... these findings were published by Randall and others at Stanford, they started getting all sorts of weird phone calls from creepy people.

So they have to figure out which factors are actually relevant to aging. And then they have to find out how they work. And then they have to figure out if they could actually use it in some therapeutic way. But the amazing thing is as soon as this... these findings were published by Randall and others at Stanford, they started getting all sorts of weird phone calls from creepy people.

And there were all these companies that sprang up which would collect information blood donation, well, they would buy blood from young donors and then sell them at presumably at a huge markup to, you know, rich old people who wanted a transfusion. And there's no evidence that any of this actually worked in humans, you know, and certainly not over the long term. So that's how it is.

And there were all these companies that sprang up which would collect information blood donation, well, they would buy blood from young donors and then sell them at presumably at a huge markup to, you know, rich old people who wanted a transfusion. And there's no evidence that any of this actually worked in humans, you know, and certainly not over the long term. So that's how it is.

And that's a... I have to say that's characteristic of the aging field. Scientists will make a completely bona fide discovery. in animals, the original scientists often, but not always, okay? I should say there are a number of scientists who are also, you know, have a kind of agenda. But by and large, scientists will be somewhat cautious and want to proceed rigorously.

And that's a... I have to say that's characteristic of the aging field. Scientists will make a completely bona fide discovery. in animals, the original scientists often, but not always, okay? I should say there are a number of scientists who are also, you know, have a kind of agenda. But by and large, scientists will be somewhat cautious and want to proceed rigorously.

But then outside parties will jump on it and then try to commercialize it or hype it up. or use some sort of supplement that they think will activate this phenomenon. So there's a huge amount of hype in the field. And I've tried to kind of try to separate the rigorous science and the biology from the hype.

But then outside parties will jump on it and then try to commercialize it or hype it up. or use some sort of supplement that they think will activate this phenomenon. So there's a huge amount of hype in the field. And I've tried to kind of try to separate the rigorous science and the biology from the hype.

Because even knowing the rigorous biology, there are lots of things we can do that will help us age more healthily. So it's not as if You know, there's nothing we can do, and we have to wait around for this industry to come up with something. There are things we can do now, and then potentially there may be more powerful things later.

Because even knowing the rigorous biology, there are lots of things we can do that will help us age more healthily. So it's not as if You know, there's nothing we can do, and we have to wait around for this industry to come up with something. There are things we can do now, and then potentially there may be more powerful things later.