Scientists believe that the mechanism which shortens the telomeres may be overriden, which may slow the aging process.  There are currently several companies specializing in telomere research.  In January of 1998, a group of scientists discovered they could activate an enzyme, telomerase, which restores the length of telomeres.  Evidence shows that cells can divide up to 280 times, far greater than the life expectancy of most cells, which divide an average of fifty times throughout their life cycle.

The research of telomerase is still in its early stages, however.  Currently, cells have only been "immortalized" within laboratory cultures.  It is unknown what these cells would do in vivo, for example in the human body or another animal.  Scientists cannot terminate the enzyme at this point, and until that is accomplished, no testing will be done on humans.

The future of this research presents a possibility of expanding the human life expectancy to four or five times its present value.  Should such research be prevented because of the threat of overpopulation?  Whether or not it is ethical to expand the lifespan of humans to over four hundred years will be a subject for future debate among religious zealots and laboratory scientists.