• Question: why do people die

    Asked by chimp 123 to Angela, Claire, Ian, Robert, Sarah on 17 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Angela Stokes

      Angela Stokes answered on 17 Nov 2014:

      We die because our cells die – billions of cells in your body die each day and make way for new cells.

      Inside each cell there is a structure called a telomere at the end of each chromosome which contains genetic information. With each cell division these get shorter as a little bit is snipped off. Initially the telomeres are long enough that they can handle a trim, but when they get to a certain length, the information is lost and they can’t repair anymore. We call all of this programmed call death. When programmed cell death gets out of control it can lead to diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Also if you sunbathe a lot, damage from exposure to ultraviolet light can also age cells.

    • Photo: Sarah Harris

      Sarah Harris answered on 19 Nov 2014:

      Exactly! And although scientific advancements have meant that our bodies can live for much longer, we haven’t managed the same for our brains, which is why finding treatments and cures for neurodegenerative diseases like alzheimers and parkinsons is so important.

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