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Measurement of Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster
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DIRECT SELECTION ON LIFE SPAN IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER.

Bas Zwaan1, R Bijlsma1, R F Hoekstra2

  • 1Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, Kerklaan 30, 9751 NN Haren, The Netherlands.

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|June 1, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

In fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), directly selecting for longer life span reduced early reproduction. This challenges previous findings and supports the disposable soma theory of aging, suggesting a trade-off in resource allocation.

Keywords:
Aging theoryDrosophilaearly and late fecundityselection on longevity

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Gerontology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The evolution of aging is often studied by selecting for reproductive timing in Drosophila melanogaster.
  • A key question is whether reduced early fecundity is linked to increased lifespan.
  • Previous studies using selection on age at reproduction yielded conflicting results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between longevity and fecundity in Drosophila melanogaster.
  • To determine if direct selection for lifespan affects early and late reproductive output.
  • To test the disposable soma theory of aging.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental evolution using direct selection for short and long lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster.
  • Monitoring of fecundity, starvation resistance, and fat content in selected fly populations.
  • Comparison of results with previous studies using selection on age at reproduction.

Main Results:

  • Direct selection successfully altered lifespan in both short and long-lived lines of fruit flies.
  • Longer-lived females exhibited consistently lower progeny production throughout their lives.
  • No increase in late-life reproduction was observed in long-lived females, unlike in previous studies.
  • Short-lived flies showed reduced starvation resistance and fat content.
  • Data support the negative-pleiotropy-disposable-soma theory of aging.

Conclusions:

  • Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster can be genetically modified through direct selection for longevity.
  • Increased lifespan is associated with decreased overall and early reproduction.
  • The findings suggest a trade-off in resource allocation, potentially involving lipid metabolism, between maintenance and reproduction.
  • Further research, including male reproduction, is needed to fully understand these mechanisms.