Species have evolved to exhibit natural variations in life span. Even genetically identical clones exhibit variable life spans. This may because this variation in metabolic processes helps to ensure that at least some individuals are better adapted to the details of the present environment, in a world in which aspects of the local environment do indeed vary over time. Species that did not exhibit this variability in characteristics between individuals would be outcompeted by those that did, sabotaged by environmental changes. Any effects on life span are likely only a side-effect of this specific aspect of the ruthless evolutionary competition for early life reproductive success. Thus, as researchers demonstrate here, it is possible to adjust the expression of specific genes to reduce this natural variation in life span, ensuring that short-liv…
It is Possible to Suppress the Random Variance in Life Span in Nematode Worms
Species have evolved to exhibit natural variations in life span. Even genetically identical clones exhibit variable life spans. This may because this variation in metabolic processes helps to ensure that at least some individuals are better adapted to the details of the present environment, in a world in which aspects of the local environment do indeed vary over time. Species that did not exhibit this variability in characteristics between individuals would be outcompeted by those that did, sabotaged by environmental changes. Any effects on life span are likely only a side-effect of this specific aspect of the ruthless evolutionary competition for early life reproductive success. Thus, as researchers demonstrate here, it is possible to adjust the expression of specific genes to reduce this natural variation in life span, ensuring that short-liv…