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Menopause01:28

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Menopause, a natural biological process marking the end of a woman's fertility, typically occurs between the fifth and sixth decade of life. This phase is characterized by the exhaustion of the ovarian follicle pool, leading to less responsive ovaries despite the high levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The consequential decrease in estrogen production results in symptoms like hot flashes, heavy sweating, headaches, hair loss, muscle pains, vaginal...
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Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
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The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
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John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
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Related Experiment Video

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Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase
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Evolution of menopause.

Rufus A Johnstone1, Michael A Cant2

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK.

Current Biology : CB
|February 20, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Menopause is a key aspect of human biology, marking an extended post-reproductive lifespan. This phenomenon is rare in mammals, with humans exhibiting it prominently.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Reproductive science
  • Human biology

Background:

  • Menopause, the cessation of menstruation, is a significant biological event.
  • Humans exhibit an unusually long post-reproductive lifespan compared to most mammals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce the concept of menopause.
  • To highlight the extended post-reproductive lifespan in humans.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on menopause and mammalian reproductive strategies.

Main Results:

  • Menopause is a defining characteristic of human aging.
  • An extended post-reproductive phase is a rare trait observed in humans and a few other mammalian species.

Conclusions:

  • The human menopause and subsequent extended lifespan represent a unique evolutionary adaptation.
  • Further research is needed to understand the ecological and evolutionary implications of this phenomenon.