[under_score]

So this thread got me thinking about metatype lifespans, and I suddenly recalled a thing I had been wondering about.  How do any statisticians anywhere know that dwarfs have an average lifespan of over a hundred years and elves of several hundred years?  I mean, considering when UGE happened, wouldn't the oldest of either metatype be no more than about 60 years old? 

[ArkangelWinter]

Part of that info was gained through genome mapping. The rest likely came from pre-Fifth World sources, like Dunkelzahn on Wyrm Talk

[Red]

It certainly doesn't hurt that there aren't any Elves showing any sign of significant age, nor especially elderly Dwarves. Unless the SURGEd into it... Arkangel hit the nail on the head, though.

[Irian]

And of course there are some spikebabies, elves born before the awakening...

[under_score]

And of course there are some spikebabies, elves born before the awakening...

But those aren't many, right?  And at most they could be 60ish+normal human adult maximum age...say 160ish?  By no means a way to demonstrate an average life span of 100s of years. 

@ArkangelWinter, yeah, that pretty much makes perfect sense.  Especially Big D. 

[CanRay]

Part of that info was gained through genome mapping. The rest likely came from pre-Fifth World sources, like Dunkelzahn on Wyrm Talk

There's a part of the DNA strand that falls off as it ages, limiting the amount that cells are able to reproduce.  Using this, you can get a rough estimate of how long a person can live.  (Right now, it's worthless for that role, and is mostly being experimented and researched on to extend human lifespan potential.).

I just wish I could remember the bloody name.  I keep running across it, but...  OK, I've been hit.  In the head.  A lot.

[Zilfer]

Part of that info was gained through genome mapping. The rest likely came from pre-Fifth World sources, like Dunkelzahn on Wyrm Talk

There's a part of the DNA strand that falls off as it ages, limiting the amount that cells are able to reproduce.  Using this, you can get a rough estimate of how long a person can live.  (Right now, it's worthless for that role, and is mostly being experimented and researched on to extend human lifespan potential.).

I just wish I could remember the bloody name.  I keep running across it, but...  OK, I've been hit.  In the head.  A lot.

Haha! that reminds me of a qoute.

"Have you been hit on the head?"

*pause*

"Yes..... hundreds of times. Why?"

Cleric to a Fighter. xD

[CitizenJoe]

Look into actuarial tables.  Almost 25% of deaths are not disease/age related.  Those accidental deaths are not avoidable genetically speaking.  Game designers are free to state estimated life span, but with the various VITAS outbreaks and other things going on in the world since the awakening, means that 'in game' nobody has credible statistical proof.

[Tecumseh]

There's a part of the DNA strand that falls off as it ages, limiting the amount that cells are able to reproduce.  Using this, you can get a rough estimate of how long a person can live.  (Right now, it's worthless for that role, and is mostly being experimented and researched on to extend human lifespan potential.).

I just wish I could remember the bloody name.  I keep running across it, but...  OK, I've been hit.  In the head.  A lot.

Telomere, CanRay.

[crisses]

And of course there are some spikebabies, elves born before the awakening...

But those aren't many, right?  And at most they could be 60ish+normal human adult maximum age...say 160ish?  By no means a way to demonstrate an average life span of 100s of years. 

@ArkangelWinter, yeah, that pretty much makes perfect sense.  Especially Big D.

And Harlequin & Ehran the Scribe, and.... whomever else.  I believe Harlequin considers Big D a "young dragon"...  sources have said he's about 5,000...  Certainly Earthdawn era...  I'm sure he won't put himself under a scope for the good doctors, and his age may not be widely-known, but for the GM/GM's Sources perspective, elves are potentially OLD.  Some few of them, anyway.

[CanRay]

I just wish I could remember the bloody name.  I keep running across it, but...  OK, I've been hit.  In the head.  A lot.

Telomere, CanRay.

That's it, thank you.  Maybe I'll remember it this time!

[Mirikon]

Whether this is still cannon or not, I'm not sure, but go get a copy of the old Tir Tairngir book, and read the chat conversation starting on page 145. Dunkelzhan's comments at the end seem to suggest that Doc is on the right track.