Recently Don Ashley wrote:
> * This is a request for a more 'scientific' term for perpetual cell
> * division. The term 'immortal' is offensive to some scientists and
> * religious fundamentalists.
I have discussed the use of the terms immortal and senescence for
scientific reasons only. Whatever religious fundamentalists may have
to say about it is irrelevant here, in my opinion. It is offensive to
several scientists (the reaction by Horst shows it) to read, or
participate in, a discussion where other than scientific arguments
are involved. I think they are right.
I take this opportunity also to react to the question about ethylene. This
compound is a plant hormone that triggers a lot of reactions, depending on
the tissue and its stage of development. One example is the hastening of
senescence. The hormone results in hastening of the de novo synthesis
of a range of proteins involved in senescence. Whether the hormone is
an oxidant or not is not the question, but a good question is whether the
(hastening of) senescence is related to increased oxidant action. In an
ethylene system of senescence, such as carnation flowers, antioxidants
clearly delay senescence. This is all we can say, and the data can as yet
not be taken as evidence for the direct involvement of oxidants in
carnation senescence as the antioxidants could also interfere with
the ethylene system (perception; signal transduction; and the autocatalytic
ethylene synthesis induced by ethylene).
Wouter van Doorn
ATO-DLO, Wageningen, Holland
