If the aging process is controlled in a similar way in worms and humans, then we can use what we learn about worms to speed our study of higher organisms.

With worms you can just change genes at random and see if you can find a mutant that does what you want it to do.

In the early '90s, we discovered mutations that could double the normal life span of worms.

There are lots of different strategies that an animal can use to survive. What a worm does is try to convert food into worms as soon as possible. In three days a single worm produces 300 progeny. So why put your resources into developing if you can make a brand-new worm in no time at all?

What I'm very concerned about is how do we bolster our self-awareness as humans, as biological organisms?

Just living longer and being sick is the worst. But the idea that you could have fewer diseases, and just have a healthy life and then turn out the lights, that's a good vision to have. And I think what we know about some of these pathways suggests that might be possible.