For more than 50 years I’ve been fascinated by one of the deepest mysteries in biology: why do cells age, and how is rejuvenation possible?
This talk explores two predominant theories — one proposing that all cells inevitably wear out, the other that certain cells are potentially immortal. Recent discoveries suggest these seemingly contradictory theories might, in fact, be reconciled in a new synthesis which sheds fresh light on the ageing and rejuvenation of yeast, bacteria, stem cells, plants, and also helps explain why cancer cells are cancerous – they hijack a rejuvenation system that is normally expressed only in the very earliest stages of embryology.
This talk is based on a review article of mine published in 2022 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society.
Proceedings of the Royal Society (2022): “Cellular Senescence, Rejuvenation and Potential Immortality” — https://www.sheldrake.org/files/pdfs/papers/Cellular-Senescence-Rejuvenation-and-Potential-Immortality.pdf
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I hope the essays and talks I share through Substack will help to stimulate fresh thinking and encourage a more holistic approach to science. However, this is by no means my full-time job. I am mainly engaged in scientific research across several fronts, some of which I have yet to discuss publicly, and I regularly publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals (see the Research section in sheldrake.org for details). I also summarise my research findings in an ongoing series of videos called Findings, which I publish here on Substack.
Traditional funding institutions are reluctant to pay for these kinds of exploration, so the generosity of people who support my work makes this research possible. But if you can’t contribute financially, don’t worry. I am happy to share ideas, and much of my content will remain free and open-access.
