The Quest for a Fountain of Youth: The What, Why and How of Human Aging

This course will focus on advancements in our understanding of aging and how these insights are changing our perceptions of the inevitability of decline at the end of the human lifespan. Focus on research in cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging in model organisms and applications to human aging. Topics including natural selection and aging, centenarians and longevity genes, calorie restriction, the epigenome and aging. Ethical questions such as the value of doubling human life span and equal access to innovations will be addressed. Class time will be a mix of lectures, student-led presentations and writing assignments.