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Aging: Nature’s way of reducing competition for resources

Disabling the genetic machinery that leads to old age could lead to much longer life spans

Organisms with and without a genetic mutation for mortality

LIVE LONG, DON’T PROSPER  In this simulation, a genetic mutation for mortality spreads through a population of immortals, providing evidence that evolution selects for shortened life spans. Organisms with a finite life span (blue) win out over immortals (red) as they compete for resources (yellow).

J. Werfel, D.E. Ingber and Y. Bar-Yam/Physical Review Letters 2015

By Andrew Grant

- More than 2 years ago

The aches, pains and disease that come with age may be nature’s method of population control.