Is it her genes? Oldest known person turns 115 on Sunday

[chinthee]

By RICK CALLAHAN, Associated Press Writer Fri Apr 18, 7:24 PM ET

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. - Maybe it was a lifetime of chores on the family farm that accounts for Edna Parker's long life. Or maybe just good genes explain why the world's oldest known person will turn 115 on Sunday, defying staggering odds.

"We don't know why she's lived so long," said Don Parker, her 59-year-old grandson. "But she's never been a worrier and she's always been a thin person, so maybe that has something to do with it."

Two years ago, researchers from the New England Centenarian Study at Boston University took a blood sample from Parker for the group's DNA database of supercentenarians.
Her DNA is now preserved with samples of about 100 other people who made the 110-year milestone and whose genes are being analyzed, said Dr. Tom Perls, an aging specialist who directs the project.

"They're really our best bet for finding the elusive Holy Grail of our field — which are these longevity-enabling genes," he said.
Only 75 living people — 64 women and 11 men — are 110 or older, according to the Gerontology Research Group of Inglewood, Calif., which verifies reports of extreme ages.

A widow since her husband, Earl, died in 1938 of a heart attack, Parker lived alone in their farmhouse until age 100, when she moved into her son Clifford's home. She cheated death a few months later.

Is it her genes? Oldest known person turns 115 on Sunday - Yahoo! News

Anybody want to live that long? Her husband died in 1938! Who's oldest on this board? Blackgang? what a puppy!

[Dalton]

^ I feel like I'm 150 right now...

[chinthee]

Well, you are 150 in terms of kilo weight my friend. No, this is not funny. time to lose the weight.

[Dalton]

^ I'm, and it aint funny at all.....

[chinthee]

^Yeah, me too. I too have the blood pressure monitor every day. Crap, how did it come to this?

[Northern Scum]

^

^^

You guys need to take care.

Who wants to live to be that old?

Your life would consist of nothing but soup & pissing the bed.

[chinthee]

^Really crap. I would rather die before that happens. Will you pull the trigger for a good fee?

[Northern Scum]

I'll pull it just to see what happens, Chi.

Seriously - you two take care.

[chinthee]

I do own lots of great guns!

[Dalton]

Will you pull the trigger for a good fee?

He can't even hurt a fly.... Ask Stroller, I think he got what it takes.

[Northern Scum]

I've considered your offer, Chi & will shoot you in the face for your Bangkok condo.

Only as a favour, mind.

[chinthee]

^Shitman, thank you. I will take this under advisement. Have you considered the tax ramifications? It could be quite expensive. Let's try to arrive at an attractive alternative.

[stroller]

I wonder if the old dear is still getting her leg over.

[Northern Scum]

Whatever floats your boat, Stroll.

[chinthee]

Intellectually, it would be interesting to claim you have bonked the oldest living creature on earth...

[Northern Scum]

I don't think the word you're looking for is 'interesting'.

Although it could be.

[Gerbil]

Intellectually, it would be interesting to claim you have bonked the oldest living creature on earth...

You could do that by going to the Zoo and shagging one of their giant turtles.