On Tue, 12 Aug 1997, Jean-Louis Tu wrote:
> No matter how much supplements of antioxydants we take (to fight
> free-radical damage), the biological clocks are still ticking, and our
> maximum life-span will still be about 120 years (unless sciencists
> discover telomere treatments). But well before reaching that age,
> the dysfunctions of the body make it more and more vulnerable to
> injuries, viruses; blood supply is less efficient, arteries stiffen, etc.
> Modern medicine nevertheless allows us to survive at high expense, but
> certainly most of the Americans of 70+ years old wouldn't survive
> without modern comfort, hygiene and health care.

Has the "120" figure been pretty much the same throughout our history then?
What do we know about the life-spans of our ancestors?