Spanish scientists develop new test enabling to determine life expectancy

Quite soon, everyone will be able to know how many years they've got to live. Spanish company Life Length designed a special test, that can define "biological age" of a human being, measuring the length of a DNA at the end of chromosomes.

These areas called telomeres protect the DNA from damage. Gradually, the telomeres become too short, causing the cells stop dividing and die which results the acceleration of the aging process.

It was therefore the logical conclusion that people with shorter telomeres have lower life expectancy.

"We know that people born with short telomeres tend to live less. In this case, we are able to detect the presence of hazardous i.e. very short telomeres," - says the inventor of the test, Maria Blasco from the Spanish National Cancer Research Center in Madrid.

"But we do not know how long telomeres increase life expectancy," - she admits, noting however that the developed test is simple, fast and accurate in application.

However, the test doesn’t predict the exact given age. Researchers hope that it will be widely distributed within the next five or ten years. In addition, scientists believe that the test will help in the fight against cancer, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease.

However, some specialists believe that new technology will open a Pandora's Box. The reaction of people, finding out that they are not going to live long, will be unpredictable.

In addition, skeptics fear, insurance companies will make customers take the test before issuing a policy.


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