Discussion on the evolution of ageing (original) (raw)
Discussion on the Evolution of Ageing Amitabh Joshi's article-Evolution, Fruit flies and Gerontology (Resonance. Vol.1. No.11. pp.51-63) is fascinating. But I suspect a subtle circularity in the arguments regarding evolution of ageing. The argument, as presented, seems to be critically dependent on the assumption of cessation of reproduction after a certain age or atleast decrease in reproductive success with age. Why anyone should stop reproducing much before death is a really perplexing question from the evolutionary point of view. But we know that this is common in many species including humans. If you say that individuals stop reproducing because they grow old, it is ridiculous, since we are set to explain why they grow 'old'. If we fail to find an ageing independent explanation for the cessation of reproduction, the further sequence of arguments collapses. Perhaps cessation of reproduction is not so crucial for antagonistic pleotropy to work. Cumulative survivorship may alone be responsible for the difference in the strength of selection at young and old ages. This can drive the evolution of ageing. Cessation of reproduction can then be looked upon as a part of, or an effect of ageing and not the cause.
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