An Attack on Aging

A potent enzyme can revive dying cells. It may not prolong life, but it could lead to a cancer therapy

It sounds like something from the Twilight Zone or The X-Files. Working to unlock the secrets of life and death, the heroes in this tale develop a powerful enzyme with the potential to rejuvenate the human body's aging tissues. But this is no sci-fi fantasy. It is an experiment sponsored by the National Institute on Aging and the Geron biotech company of Menlo Park, Calif., and a report on the research appeared in last week's issue of the prestigious journal Science. Not surprisingly, when word of the study first hit Wall Street, Geron's share price jumped 40%, to close at 14...

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