Immortality a Possible Reality?

"Youth, youth, there is absolutely nothing in the world but youth." - Lord Henry, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Geographical and religious complications and connotations aside, some scientists feel near immortality may not be solely the subject of fiction for long. By studying molecular chains called telomeres that aid in the replication of DNA and are an apparent key to aging, scientists have discovered an enzyme that can toggle telomere production on the DNA molecule. The amount of this enzyme in our cells decreases as we age, and "naturally, the exploration of this enzyme is now the focus of much investigation, but unfortunately the research is aimed at understanding how to turn telomeres 'off' to limit the spread of 'immortal' cancer cells."