While humans are all too familiar with the ravages of getting older, many trees seem to handle ageing a lot better.
Certain trees can live for thousands of years and appear to be immortal.
But not everyone is convinced these old timers can escape death due to old age.
Regardless, could humans with their relatively puny lifespans have something to learn from these ancient trees? Some scientists think so.
Establishing how old the oldest living tree is depends a bit on which plants are in the running for the title.
You could argue that Australia's Wollemi pine, which has been cloning itself for more than 60 million years, deserves the title. But that's kind of cheating because this involves multiple stems growing from the one rootstock.
This is why the oldest tree in the world is generally regarded as a single-stemmed bristlecone pine called Pinus longaeva.
This species can live to around 5,000 years and does well where most other plants cannot even grow in rocky, dry, high-altitude areas in the United States.
What's amazing is that scientists have not so far been able to show that getting older directly affects the health of such millennial trees, plant biologist Sergi Munne-Bosch from the University of Barcelona says.
It's because of this, some have suggested these trees are essentially immortal.
But in a recent article, Professor Munne-Bosch argues that it's likely even ancient trees could die from old age assuming something else doesn't kill them first.
He emphasises that there's a difference between ageing, which is about how long an organism has lived, and age-related deterioration, which is referred to as senescence.
"Just because we can't track senescence in long-lived trees doesn't mean they are immortal."
Professor Munne-Bosch points to recent research on centuries-old Ginkgo biloba trees that found no evidence of senescence.
The study was the first to look for evidence of age-related changes in cells of the cambium, a layer just beneath the bark that contains cells that can produce new tissue throughout the plant's life.
It confirmed the long-lived trees, which in this case were up to 667 years old, were just as healthy as younger ones says Professor Munne-Bosch.
"They grow very well, they produce seeds, they produce flowers, so they are healthy."
He points out that even though a 667-year-old tree seems old when compared to a human, it is relatively young for a ginkgo.
"This species can live for more than two millennia."
Professor Munne-Bosch argues that the ginkgo researchers' data shows that older trees had thinner vascular tissue and that this hints at possible age-related deterioration that would be more obvious in even older trees.
Yet despite this deterioration, he says these trees are more likely to die from insects, disease, fire, drought or loggers, than old age.
"For a species that can live for millennia, aging is not really a problem in evolutionary terms because they are much more likely to die of something else."
The problem is there are so few of these long-lived trees that it's hard to get the data to know for certain whether they can die of old age.
"We cannot prove it either way," Professor Munne-Bosch says, adding that age-related deterioration is likely to happen in these trees at such a different pace compared to in humans.
"For a Ginkgo biloba, six centuries is not as physiologically relevant as it is to us."
Brenda Casper, a professor of biology at the University of Pennsylvania says it's not clear that the changes found in the older Ginkgo biloba trees were necessarily detrimental to the tree.
But she agrees the low number of millennial trees makes it hard to study their longevity.
"It's difficult to find statistical evidence for senescence."
Even if there were enough trees, she says some of the age-related deterioration may be hard to detect, or we may not know what to look for.
"It's not just internal physiology per se but it's the interaction of the tree with its environment."
For example, she says it would be hard to measure whether age had made a tree more susceptible to disease, or less structurally sound so it's more likely to fall over in a windstorm.
Even if the jury is out on whether millennial trees are immortal, some experts say their longevity could be inspirational for medical research.
Professor Munne-Bosch says such trees can draw on a bag of tricks to help them "postpone death".
First is having a simple body plan with modular-like branches and roots. This means they can compartmentalise any damaged or dead roots or branches and work around them.
"They can lose part of leaves or roots and continue to be healthy..
And he says although 95 per cent of the trunk of a tree might be dead, the living cambium just beneath the bark is "one of the secrets of longevity" in trees.
Millennial trees have used the combination of these features to their best advantage and Professor Munne-Bosch says these tricks are providing a model for scientists researching the negative effects of ageing.
"Imagine if we could regenerate our lungs or circulatory system every year, we would be much healthier than we are."
Want more science plus health, environment, tech and more? Subscribe to our channel.
Professor of biomedical engineering at the University of New South Wales, Melissa Knothe Tate is one researcher who is inspired by millennial trees.
"They have units and if one unit breaks you can replace it with another unit."
Only a small percentage of an individual long-lived tree may be alive, but she argues it's all about survival of the cells that are able to regenerate the tree.
"Those that survive best, survive longest."
"Millennial trees are the best survivors because they've seen a lot."
While a tree and a human might seem worlds apart, Professor Knothe Tate sees the similarities, pointing to the role of stem cells in maintaining bones in humans.
She says cells add new layers to bone, like tree rings, to increase girth and when bone is injured, stem cells quickly help repair it.
"We're constantly renewing our bones and trees do something similar."
Professor Knothe Tate says she is using stem cells and new biomaterials that emulate tree cambium, to create replacement tissue in the lab, and has several patents for the work.
"I think about plants a lot when I'm up in the mountains and amongst the trees."
Professor Knothe Tate, who draws on her training in philosophy, biology and mechanical engineering for her work, sees other similarities that can inspire research.
For example, she likens the human brain to the network of roots and branches that helps a tree remain resilient if one part is damaged, another part can sometimes take up the slack.
"As parts of the brain are injured or die, it's remarkable what functionality we can retain,
"If we knew which of the brain's networks were essential for certain functions, we may be able to grow them."
Want even more science, health and tech? Join the conversation on Facebook.
Professor Knothe Tate also set up a science education project for girls that explores the parallels between the biomechanics of trees and bones. It was inspired by her observation of how huge trees sway like a blade of grass in the wind.
She has high hopes for the potential of regenerative medicine research that draws on knowledge from other disciplines like plant biology to extend human life.
"We can then start to think about making ourselves immortal."
Plant biologist Professor Munne-Bosch is also enthusiastic.
"The future of medicine is very similar to what has evolved in millennial trees."
But while regenerating tissues will help humans live much longer, he doubts we will ever be immortal.
"It won't be forever, because we are more likely to die of something else, whether it be an accident or a pandemic."
Get all the latest science stories from across the ABC.
View post:
Are very long-lived trees immortal and what can they teach humans? - ABC News
- Kyle Orwig received the Distinguished Researcher Award from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine - University of Pittsburgh - October 4th, 2022
- I Have Cancer And I'm Thankful For The Life Science Industry - Clinical Leader - July 19th, 2022
- Whitmer to veto adoption, abortion alternative funds from Michigan budget - Bridge Michigan - July 19th, 2022
- Tevogen Bio Appoints Acclaimed Oncologist and Immunotherapy Expert Neal Flomenberg, M.D. as Chief Scientific Officer and Global Head of R&D - Yahoo... - July 11th, 2022
- Amendment added to PA budget bill would make Pitt, other universities stop fetal tissue research - WPXI Pittsburgh - July 3rd, 2022
- Free Fecal Water Syndrome in Horses and What To Do About It The Horse - TheHorse.com - July 3rd, 2022
- PAWcast: Valedictorian Natalia Orlovsky '22 on Research, Mental Health, and Pandemic Princeton - Princeton Alumni Weekly - July 3rd, 2022
- Opinion | Pro-Life Representatives may be the reason thousands of students cant afford Pitt - The Pitt News - June 22nd, 2022
- Tackling chronic disease with gene and cell therapies - The Irish Times - May 2nd, 2022
- How one inflammatory disorder exacerbates another | Penn Today - Penn Today - May 2nd, 2022
- ChristianaCare and The Wistar Institute Advance Partnership With New Cancer Research Strategies - ChristianaCare News - March 25th, 2022
- The Incredible Story of Emily Whitehead & CAR T-Cell Therapy : Oncology Times - LWW Journals - March 25th, 2022
- Penn State recipients of Whitaker Center's Women of Impact 2021 awards unite through research - The Daily Collegian Online - March 25th, 2022
- Citius Pharmaceuticals to Host Key Opinion Leader Webcast on the Compelling Need to Salvage Central Venous Catheters in CLABSI Patients - Stockhouse - October 28th, 2021
- NIH, FDA and 15 private organizations join forces to increase effective gene therapies for rare diseases - National Institutes of Health - October 28th, 2021
- FDA, NIH, and 15 private organizations join forces to increase effective gene therapies for rare diseases - FDA.gov - October 28th, 2021
- People and places at Penn | Penn Today - Penn Today - Penn Today - August 18th, 2021
- Millions in federal money flowed to tissue bank that collected fetal 'heart, gonads, legs, brain': report - Fox News - August 5th, 2021
- Bispecific Antibodies Wage a Two-Pronged Attack on Tumors - Curetoday.com - June 23rd, 2021
- Newly Discovered Glycosylated RNA Is All Over Cells: Study - The Scientist - May 25th, 2021
- Penn researchers find a way through the labyrinth keeping CAR-T from solid tumors - Endpoints News - December 7th, 2020
- 'Benjamin Button' discovery could reverse ageing process - Queensland Times - December 7th, 2020
- The story of mRNA: From a loose idea to a tool that may help curb Covid - STAT - November 11th, 2020
- Dr. Andreas Sauerbrey: The right orthopaedic diagnosis is essential to proper care - Sky Hi News - September 12th, 2020
- T cells, B cells and the range of the human bodys immune response A simple decoder - ThePrint - August 10th, 2020
- Eradicating balding a step closer with new procedure in the cross hairs - The New Daily - June 4th, 2020
- Coming Together to Solve COVID-19 Mysteries | University of Pennsylvania Almanac - UPENN Almanac - June 4th, 2020
- Orthopedics - Pennsylvania Stem Cell Center - May 25th, 2020
- Stem Cell Treatment Bala Cynwyd | Stem Cell Therapy ... - May 25th, 2020
- Vasomune Therapeutics Announces Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board - BioSpace - May 11th, 2020
- Chinas scientists accused of playing God by creating monstrous cloned apes and primates with human organs - The Sun - May 11th, 2020
- Pregnant and positive | Scientists look for COVID-19 immunity in the womb - WHAS11.com - April 23rd, 2020
- Why Choose Us - Pennsylvania Stem Cell Center - April 10th, 2020
- Moderna: A $12 Billion Brand Built On Hope And mRNA - Seeking Alpha - April 10th, 2020
- The potential use of CRISPR to treat disease is gaining momentum - BioNews - January 16th, 2020
- What a time to be alive: Reproductive breakthroughs of the 2010s that changed life as we know it - FOX 10 News Phoenix - January 3rd, 2020
- 2019: The year gene therapy came of age - Jamaica Observer - December 9th, 2019
- Trevena Inc. (TRVN)'s Financial Results Comparing With VistaGen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:VTGN) - The Broch Herald - December 9th, 2019
- 253 miles in 4 hours: A Syracuse mans race for a lung transplant, and the angel who helped him - syracuse.com - December 1st, 2019
- Head to Head Survey: BioRestorative Therapies (OTCMKTS:BRTX) & Livongo Health (OTCMKTS:LVGO) - Mitchell Messenger - December 1st, 2019
- Critical Review: BioRestorative Therapies (OTCMKTS:BRTX) and Livongo Health (OTCMKTS:LVGO) - NCTY News - November 16th, 2019
- These Israeli Companies Are Finding Innovative Ways To Improve Diabetes Care, Treatment | Health News - NoCamels - Israeli Innovation News - November 16th, 2019
- Reviewing BioRestorative Therapies (OTCMKTS:BRTX) and Livongo Health (OTCMKTS:LVGO) - Mitchell Messenger - November 16th, 2019
- Reviewing Madrigal Pharmaceuticals Inc. (MDGL)'s and Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:BCLI)'s results - MS Wkly - October 30th, 2019
- Gene Therapy/Editing Series 1: A Brief Introduction To Gene Therapy - Seeking Alpha - October 30th, 2019
- AI uncovers genes linked to heart failure - FierceBiotech - September 27th, 2019
- University of Pennsylvania || Cell and Molecular Biology ... - September 7th, 2019
- Robert Lanza - Wikipedia - May 12th, 2019
- Cary Ortho Utilizes Bone Marrow Stem Cells for General ... - May 12th, 2019
- Stem Cell Therapy in Lancaster Pennsylvania | Stem Cell ... - April 24th, 2019
- Lung Institute Review | Do Stem Cell Treatments Work? - April 21st, 2019
- Cells Weekly October 11, 2015 - stemcellassays.com - February 5th, 2019
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Stem Cells Transplant Institute - November 18th, 2018
- Stem Cell Therapy in York County, Pennsylvania - October 8th, 2018
- Regrowing dental tissue with stem cells from baby teeth ... - October 2nd, 2018
- About Penn's IRM - Institute for Regenerative Medicine - September 16th, 2018
- Stem Cell Treatment - Philadelphia Bala Cynwyd, PA: World ... - August 13th, 2018
- Stem Cell Therapy in Conewago Township, Pennsylvania - July 19th, 2018
- Meetings - October 8th, 2017
- Tucson's Calimmune to be acquired by Australian drug giant - Arizona Daily Star - August 30th, 2017
- Hair Regrowth using Stem Cells | Ashley and Martin - August 30th, 2017
- Bone Marrow Protein May Be Target for Improving Stem Cell Transplants - Penn: Office of University Communications - August 30th, 2017
- Novartis receives first ever FDA approval for a CAR-T cell therapy, Kymriah(TM) (CTL019), for children and young ... - GlobeNewswire (press release) - August 30th, 2017
- COLUMN: Startling statistics concerning drug deaths in rural communities - Meadville Tribune - August 25th, 2017
- Rare leukemia targeted by modifying patients' immune cells - New Haven Register - August 7th, 2017
- Campus achievement - Sunbury Daily Item - August 7th, 2017
- La Jolla Light News Nuggets: July 27 - La Jolla Light - July 30th, 2017
- 2016 Scientific Program - December 4th, 2016
- Tissue Niches & Resident Stem Cells in Adult Epithelia - GRC - August 26th, 2016
- Knee Stem Cell Therapy and Platelet Procedures Pittsburgh ... - July 2nd, 2015
- Penn vet team points to new colon cancer culprit - March 16th, 2015
- MD Anderson Names Hwu as Head of Cancer Medicine - February 26th, 2015
- Stemiotics Licenses Modified RNA for Cell Reprogramming - December 22nd, 2014
- Penn Medicine Researchers Announce Latest Results of Investigational Cellular Therapy CTL019 - December 8th, 2014
- Cyanide killed hospital employee, official says - November 29th, 2014
- An Eclectic Path to Precision Medicine - November 25th, 2014
- First Study to Convert Adult Human Cells to Hair-Follicle ... - November 2nd, 2014
- Stem Cell and Xenograft Core: Biomedical Research Core ... - October 27th, 2014
- Immune Therapy Induces Remission for Many With a Tough-to-Treat Blood Cancer - October 18th, 2014
- Sangamo BioSciences ZFP Therapeutic Program in HIV/AIDS Featured at Three Major Scientific Conferences in October 2014 - October 16th, 2014