Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Aging01:26

Aging

913
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
913
Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective01:23

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

399
In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
399
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

1.1K
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the...
1.1K
The Effect of Aging on Tissues01:19

The Effect of Aging on Tissues

4.0K
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
4.0K
Mitochondria01:37

Mitochondria

21.0K
Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...
21.0K
Cognitive Development During Adulthood01:30

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

993
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
993

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The ecological and developmental foundations of brood parasitism in a catfish.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Sexual selection and reproductive success in mesocosm populations of African annual killifish.

Journal of fish biology·2026
Same author

Rapid Gamete Maturation and Social Modulation Shape Reproductive Dynamics in a Brood Parasitic Catfish.

Ecology and evolution·2026
Same author

Neither caloric nor protein restriction increases the male lifespan of outbred short-lived fish.

The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences·2025
Same author

Alternative social and reproductive niches linked to intra-sexual color variation in a facultatively protogynous North American annual killifish, Millerichthys robustus.

Scientific reports·2025
Same author

Temporal Dynamics of Biological Invasions: Perception of Host Quality Differs Between Native and Alien Host Species.

Ecology and evolution·2025
Same journal

Editorial for special issue "When should mathematical models be used in biology".

Seminars in cell & developmental biology·2026
Same journal

Conserved machinery, divergent functions: evolutionary plasticity of the STK36/ULK4 kinase complex in ciliogenesis and signaling.

Seminars in cell & developmental biology·2026
Same journal

Chemical biology tools for studying tissue development.

Seminars in cell & developmental biology·2026
Same journal

Tetrahymena as a model organism for cilia research.

Seminars in cell & developmental biology·2026
Same journal

Emerging Concepts in Cardiovascular Development and Regeneration.

Seminars in cell & developmental biology·2026
Same journal

Endothelial origin of hematopoietic stem cells: Insights from new technologies and unresolved questions.

Seminars in cell & developmental biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 1, 2026

Author Spotlight: Automated Lifespan Monitoring – Discovering Aging Dynamics with the Lifespan Machine
08:53

Author Spotlight: Automated Lifespan Monitoring – Discovering Aging Dynamics with the Lifespan Machine

Published on: January 26, 2024

1.7K

Evolutionary perspectives on ageing.

Martin Reichard1

  • 1Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic.

Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology
|May 31, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Evolutionary theory explains ageing as a decline in fitness over time. Recent findings on condition-dependent survival and positive pleiotropy refine these theories, exploring rejuvenation and its impact on identity.

Keywords:
Gene-by-environment interactionsGerm-soma distinctionIntraspecific ageing rateModified mutation accumulationRejuvenationRetrogression

More Related Videos

A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
10:39

A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: September 17, 2020

6.9K
Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model System to Study Protein Homeostasis in a Multicellular Organism
12:38

Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model System to Study Protein Homeostasis in a Multicellular Organism

Published on: December 18, 2013

6.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 1, 2026

Author Spotlight: Automated Lifespan Monitoring – Discovering Aging Dynamics with the Lifespan Machine
08:53

Author Spotlight: Automated Lifespan Monitoring – Discovering Aging Dynamics with the Lifespan Machine

Published on: January 26, 2024

1.7K
A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
10:39

A Suppressor Screen for the Characterization of Genetic Links Regulating Chronological Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: September 17, 2020

6.9K
Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model System to Study Protein Homeostasis in a Multicellular Organism
12:38

Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model System to Study Protein Homeostasis in a Multicellular Organism

Published on: December 18, 2013

6.6K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Gerontology
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • Ageing is defined as a decrease in fitness with chronological age, marked by increased mortality risk and reduced reproductive success.
  • Evolutionary theory provides explanations for the evolution of ageing, despite its detrimental effects on individual fitness.
  • Classic theories and recent empirical findings, such as condition-dependent survival and positive pleiotropy, have advanced the understanding of ageing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review classic and recent evolutionary theories of ageing.
  • To discuss theoretical extensions accommodating new discoveries like condition-dependent survival and positive pleiotropy.
  • To explore alternative views on senescence, including rejuvenation and its implications for evolutionary theory.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of classic and contemporary evolutionary theories of ageing.
  • Analysis of empirical tests and recent findings related to ageing.
  • Discussion of theoretical modifications and alternative perspectives on senescence.

Main Results:

  • Recent findings, including condition-dependent survival and positive pleiotropy, have refined evolutionary theories of ageing.
  • Indeterminate growth influences lifetime fecundity and ageing trajectories.
  • Alternative views challenge universal senescence, proposing rejuvenation through developmental stage reversion in modular organisms.

Conclusions:

  • Rejuvenation is plausible but involves reverting to a simpler developmental stage, losing acquired information.
  • The concept of individual identity after rejuvenation is crucial for evaluating current evolutionary ageing theories.
  • Understanding ageing patterns across the Tree of Life requires resolving the implications of rejuvenation for evolutionary theory.