Aging A Natural History Author:Robert E. Ricklefs, Caleb E. Finch An original treatment of human aging that draws on biomedical research and the natural history of animals and plants, this illustrated book describes the biological phenomenon in detail, helping the reader to understand its complex processes. In the aging pattern of humans and many other species, the authors find some answers to why aging ... more »must exist at all, and why it is so spectacularly different in different species. They present contemporary theories of aging and their implications for the prospect of significantly extending the human life span. The “hows” of aging — including genetic mutations, cellular degeneration, wear and tear on the body, and the gradual weakening of the body’s immune response — are explored carefully and fully, as are the genetic and environmental causes of aging. Also considered are the prospects for prolonging human life and improving the quality of life at older ages.« less