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Related Concept Videos

What is Natural Selection?01:32

What is Natural Selection?

Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.The Theory of Natural...
Limits to Natural Selection01:38

Limits to Natural Selection

Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.For one, natural selection can only act upon existing genetic variation. Hypothetically, redtusks may enhance elephant survival by deterring ivory-seeking poachers. However, if there are no gene variants—or alleles—for redtusks, natural selection cannot increase the prevalence of...
Types of Selection01:46

Types of Selection

Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...
Natural Selection and Mating Preferences01:06

Natural Selection and Mating Preferences

The principle of natural selection posits that organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This principle is closely intertwined with mating preferences, a key aspect of sexual selection, which evolutionary psychologists believe is driven by instincts to propagate one's genes. Such instincts significantly influence mating behaviors and preferences between genders.
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing, inherently...
Natural Selection and Adaptation01:15

Natural Selection and Adaptation

Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
Beyond physical adaptations, psychological...
Frequency-dependent Selection01:21

Frequency-dependent Selection

When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.Positive Frequency-Dependent SelectionIn positive...

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Surveying Low-Cost Methods to Measure Lifespan and Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Surveying Low-Cost Methods to Measure Lifespan and Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: May 18, 2022

Natural selection and immortality.

Antoine Danchin1

  • 1Genetics of Bacterial Genomes, CNRS URA2171, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. antoine.danchin@normalesup.org

Biogerontology
|August 23, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Organisms may create new information by rejuvenating aged structures, a process requiring energy and specific genes. This biological information accumulation can lead to metamorphosis but may cause cancer in multicellular life.

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Area of Science:

  • Genomics and aging research
  • Information Theory in biological systems

Background:

  • Cellular reproduction and genome replication are fundamental life processes.
  • The relationship between these processes and organismal aging is complex.
  • Existing theories on aging do not fully explain information accumulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the dialogue between reproduction and replication in bacterial genomes concerning aging.
  • To investigate the de novo creation of information within biological systems.
  • To identify mechanisms and energy sources for information accumulation across generations.

Main Methods:

  • Deep analysis of bacterial genomes.
  • Revisiting principles of Information Theory.
  • Identifying specific genes and functions involved in information processing.

Main Results:

  • The laws of physics allow for de novo information creation via energy-dependent processes.
  • Specific functions and genes facilitating information accumulation were identified.
  • Polyphosphates are proposed as a potential energy source for reproduction/replication balancing.

Conclusions:

  • Organisms tend to metamorphose into younger states rather than solely repair.
  • This rejuvenative process allows for generational information accumulation.
  • Uncontrolled rejuvenation in multicellular organisms may lead to immortalization and cancer.