What Can Genetic Variation Tell Us About The Evolution Of Senescence?

Ageing is believed to have evolved by two genetic mechanisms; one requires mutations that reduce survival or reproduction only at late age, whilst the other involves mutations that increase these traits at early age at the expense of late-acting fitness traits. One very popular approach for evaluating the relative importance of each mechanism involves estimating quantitative genetic parameters for age-specific mortality or fecundity.

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Filed under: Seniors on March 31st, 2009