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The iPod serves as a metaphor for human aging. Moalem notes that Apple came under criticism because people accused them of employing “planned obsolescence” in their iPods (which were relatively new at the time of the book’s publication), because their batteries would only last about 18 months and couldn’t be replaced, forcing consumers to buy a new model.
Moalem indicates that this concept can be applied to aging in humans as well: he posits that aging is preprogrammed into human genes, because it helps prevent cancer. Normally, our cells are only able to reproduce a specific number of times before genetic information begins to be lost. This prevents cells from becoming cancerous and reproducing an infinite number of times. But our bodies begin to break down once we surpass that limit, and our cells lose genetic information. It is a tradeoff, but Moalem argues that there is still some benefit to aging. Like the obsolete iPod, “aging makes room for new models, which is exactly what creates the room for change—for evolution.” Evolution, Moalem posits, is the way that a species gets “upgraded,” and thus it is important for older models to be cleared away so that we can receive the benefits of the new adaptations.
iPod Quotes in Survival of the Sickest
The Survival of the Sickest quotes below all refer to the symbol of iPod. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 8
Quotes
Biogenic obsolescence—that is to say, aging—might accomplish two similar ends. First, by clearing out older models, aging makes room for new models, which is exactly what creates the room for change—for evolution. Second, aging can protect the group by eliminating individuals that have become laden with parasites, preventing them from infecting the next generation. Sex and reproduction, in turn, are the way a species gets upgraded.
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iPod Symbol Timeline in Survival of the Sickest
The timeline below shows where the symbol iPod appears in Survival of the Sickest. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 8: That’s Life: Why You and Your iPod Must Die
...benefit on the species, like a biological version of planned obsolescence. He compares humans to iPods, which some people accused Apple of designing with planned obsolescence, so that the batteries would...
(full context)
