Mathematical Theory of Reliability and Aging: Teaching Comes from Kiev

The field of systems biology, in dealing with the problem of reliability, incorporates theoretical and experimental investigations of quantitative characteristics and mechanisms of failures and renewal processes. Regular conferences on the problems of reliability of biological systems, starting from 1975 in Kiev, former USSR, have given the strong impetus to research in this direction. It has also spurred the studies on biological reliability (under the style of "robustness") on other side of the former "iron curtain". In this report, I present the results of application of the systems reliability theory to the problems of aging. On this basis, the universal features of aging, such as the exponential growth of mortality rate with time and the correlation of longevity with the species-specific resting metabolism are naturally explained. The stochastic malfunctions of the mitochondrial electron transport nanoreactors, which produce superoxide radicals, seem to be of first importance. The longevity of human brain could reach 250 years should the antioxidant defense against the free-radical failures be perfect. Thus, aging occurs as the consequence of the genetically preset deficiency in reliability of the biomolecular constructions while the free-radical timer serves as the effective stochastic mechanism of realization of the program of aging. Besides, the systems reliability approach serves as heuristic methodology for development of novel preventive medicine.