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The evolution of ageing and longevity.

T B Kirkwood, R Holliday

    Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
    |September 21, 1979
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Aging is not adaptive and may result from reduced accuracy in somatic cells to speed reproduction. This "disposable soma" theory suggests longevity increases with higher accuracy in germ cells and slower reproduction.

    Area of Science:

    • Evolutionary biology
    • Gerontology
    • Molecular biology

    Background:

    • Aging reduces reproductive potential and is not adaptive.
    • Natural selection weakens with age due to extrinsic mortality factors like predation and disease.
    • The "disposable soma" theory posits aging results from late-acting deleterious genes and an energy-saving strategy in somatic cells.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To explore the evolutionary basis of aging.
    • To present the "disposable soma" theory as an alternative to other aging theories.
    • To propose testable hypotheses regarding macromolecular accuracy and longevity.

    Main Methods:

    • Theoretical analysis of evolutionary pressures on aging.
    • Comparison of aging mechanisms in organisms with different life strategies.

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  • Proposing experimental approaches to test the "disposable soma" theory.

    • Main Results:

    • Aging is not an adaptive process but a consequence of evolutionary trade-offs.
    • Reduced accuracy in somatic cells may accelerate development and reproduction at the cost of lifespan.
    • Germ line cells maintain high accuracy to ensure genetic integrity across generations.

    Conclusions:

    • The "disposable soma" theory provides a framework for understanding the evolution of aging.
    • Organisms may balance reproductive speed with cellular accuracy to optimize fitness.
    • Future research should focus on measuring cellular accuracy and comparing it across species with varying longevities.