Cost-free lifespan extension via optimization of gene expression in adulthood aligns with the developmental theory of ageing.

ABSTRACT: Ageing evolves because the force of selection on traits declines with age but the proximate causes of ageing are incompletely understood. The 'disposable soma' theory of ageing (DST) upholds that competitive resource allocation between reproduction and somatic maintenance underpins the evolution of ageing and lifespan. In contrast, the developmental theory of ageing (DTA) suggests that organismal senescence is caused by suboptimal gene expression in adulthood. While the DST predicts the trade-off between reproduction and lifespan, the DTA predicts that age-specific optimization of gene expression can increase lifespan without reproduction costs. Here we investigated the consequences for lifespan, reproduction, egg size and individual fitness of early-life, adulthood and post-reproductive o

SUBMITTER: Lind MI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7893226 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature