By Rachel Zwick

Astounding developments in the science of longevity necessitate the questions: can and should we manipulate human lifespan? Molecular, cell, evolutionary, and gerontological biologists battled it out on Thursday night at the World Science Festival.

Quotables:
“In the new gerontology, we’ll be able to do truly amazing things. And we will in fact stop human aging much earlier.” – Michael Rose

“The ultimate controller of aging is evolution.” – Rose

“Science is driven by the quest to find things out, really for the sake of finding things out…and then technology takes what we know and uses it for the greater good.”  – Aubrey de Grey

“We need to find a way to get more money into basic research…In 25 years we’ll see drugs based on basic research on aging that are part of a tool kit against all the major diseases of aging– Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, Cancer, Osteoporosis, inflammatory diseases…” – Lenny Guarente

Overheard:

“Can’t stop looking. Aubrey de Grey’s beard is *mesmerizing*” – @DaveMosher, via Twitter

From Dust to… took place on Thursday, June 2, 2011. Check out other Instant Reactions or view the full Festival schedule to learn more about the many other 2011 Festival programs.