[Is selection for extended life expectancy possible by regularity in aging?]

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Gerontology
• Physiology

Context:

• Species evolving later in evolutionary history generally possess higher maximum life span potentials (MLP).
• The aging process is a regular physiological event, amenable to explanation and prediction through experimental gerontology.
• Existing research explores genetic, metabolic, and repair mechanisms influencing biological aging.

Purpose:

• To explain the evolutionary development of maximum life span potentials (MLP).
• To evaluate two primary hypotheses for the causes of aging: programmed aging (adaptive hypothesis) versus error accumulation (nonadaptive hypotheses, e.g., disposable soma).
• To determine whether aging is a programmed event or a consequence of accumulated damage.

Summary:

• Later-evolving species demonstrate increased MLP, correlating with enhanced antibiosenescent strategies (AS).
• This supports the nonadaptive hypothesis, suggesting species invest more in somatic maintenance (AS) when better adapted to environments with fewer risks.
• Aging is viewed as a regular physiological process influenced by evolutionary adaptations in somatic maintenance and repair mechanisms.

Impact:

• Provides insights into the evolutionary drivers of aging and lifespan variation across species.
• Contributes to understanding the biological basis of aging, potentially informing strategies for healthspan extension.
• Highlights the role of environmental adaptation and resource allocation (soma vs. reproduction) in shaping aging processes.