Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

291 | Venki Ramakrishnan on the Biology of Death and Aging

Sep 30, 2024

01:20:36

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Venki Ramakrishnan, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist renowned for his work on ribosomes, dives into the complexities of aging and death. He explores the biological processes that govern these phenomena and discusses the quest for longevity. The conversation also highlights the pivotal role of ribosomes in protein synthesis, recent advancements in molecular biology, and how lifestyle impacts longevity. Ramakrishnan considers the philosophical implications of mortality and the evolutionary diversity in aging, sparking intriguing thoughts on life and health.

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Quick takeaways

Aging is a complex biological process influenced by cellular mechanisms, genetics, and environmental factors, emphasizing the need for deeper understanding and research.

The ribosome plays a crucial role in protein synthesis and its regulation is increasingly linked to health and the aging process.

Lifestyle factors such as caloric restriction, exercise, and adequate sleep are essential in promoting longevity and mitigating the effects of aging.

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Intro

2min

Exploring Human Mortality and the Quest for Longevity

3min

The Biology of Aging: Ribosomes and Life Processes

14min

The Dance of Molecules: Understanding Protein Synthesis

2min

The Complex World of Ribosomes

13min

Understanding Mortality and Aging

9min

The Death Dilemma: Aging Across Life Forms

10min

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25min

10.

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6min

Aging and death happen to the best of us, but there are increasing efforts to do something about it. That effort requires that we have some reasonable understanding of why aging happens, and what processes are involved. You will be unsurprised to learn that it's complicated. Venki Ramakrishnan, who won the Nobel Prize for his work on the ribosome, investigates what we know about aging in his book Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality. We talk about aging and death, and manage to get some thoughts in about ribosomes. Venki and many other great communicators will be speaking at New Scientist Live, which takes place at ExCeL London between 12 - 14 October 2024, and is also streamed live as well as on-demand.

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Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/09/30/291-venki-ramakrishnan-on-the-biology-of-death-and-aging/

Venkatraman (Venki) Ramakrishnan received his Ph.D. in physics from Ohio University. He is currently Group Leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, England, and is a Fellow of Trinity College. He previously served as President of the Royal Society of London. He shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work uncovering the structure of the ribosome.

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Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

291 | Venki Ramakrishnan on the Biology of Death and Aging