With the help of molecular biology, Venki Ramakrishnan, who shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Thomas A. Steitz and Ada Yonath, provides an explanation of life, death, and aging. His research on the ribosome, the cellular machinery that puts proteins together, supports the notion that our aging process is influenced by how well our cells produce and recycle proteins.
“The interesting thing about death is that when we die, most of our cells remain alive, which is why our organs can be donated, but they are no longer able to function as a whole; that is death.” He told BBC News,This point of view makes the science of aging less mysterious.
It links our DNA’s chemical code to the decisions we make on a daily basis, like what to eat, how much exercise we do, and how much sleep we get, as well as to our expectations about how long we will live and the boundaries of anti-aging medication. Ramakrishnan’s principles are solid and compassionate: understand the equipment, honor its limitations, and maintain it with reliable routines.
Proteins, ribosome, and why DNA damage matters
According to Ramakrishnan, “One of the causes of aging is the accumulation of damage in the genes of DNA.” The instructions for producing proteins, which “carry thousands of chemical reactions that make life possible,” are encoded in those genes. They allow cell-to-cell communication and provide our bodies strength and form.
These instructions travel with the ribosome, where amino acids joint to form useful proteins that helps tissue growth, repair, and coordination. Cellular quality control decreases over time if damage to DNA builds up or if the ratio of protein synthesis to breakdown drifts. This loss is a major factor in aging. It happens gradually. Because the entire organism depends on coordinated, precise protein housekeeping, this molecular lens helps explain why systems can malfunction even while many cells are still alive and functioning.
Death, giving, and what we can accomplish in reality
The fact that many cells survive death, as noted by Ramakrishnan, both explains why organ donation can be done and defines the point at which an organism can no longer function as a cohesive whole. The long aging curve, which is shaped by tiny molecular defects that build up, runs from complete health to that ultimate loss of coordination.
This is why anti-aging medication promises and pills usually come up in public debates. “Eating well, sleeping well, and exercising is more effective than any anti-aging medicine on the market.” says Ramakrishnan, focusing on the body’s natural healing process. In reality, this entails regular exercise to promote pathways that maintain muscle, metabolism, and coordination, regular sleep to allow cellular “clean-up,” during the night and consistent nutrition to support maintenance and repair.
A clear path for longevity
In Ramakrishnan’s opinion, the path is surprisingly realistic. From the ribosome to proteins, DNA, and cells, the science of aging gives a map in which our habits provide the path.
When the system can no longer function as a whole, even with many cells still alive, death happens. As protein production and clearance are not properly regulated, aging progresses.
We have true choice between those sides. Make healthy eating, regular exercise, and enough sleep your top priorities, and be wary of short cuts that promise things that biology cannot. Might be a longer path for those who prefer faster result (pills, medicine, botox) but it works. The calm accuracy of Ramakrishnan’s advice is to understand the equipment, then take care of it.
In this way, our daily decisions can encourage health and longevity by using the body’s natural logic rather than fighting the passage of time.