Grannies give gift of longer lives
By Bruce Bower
Unlike the females of most species, women often live for decades after their childbearing years. A new study suggests that there’s an evolutionary reason for granny’s staying power.
Grandmothers have traditionally helped care for their grandchildren, especially once the youngsters have been weaned. As a result, according to a team led by Mirkka Lahdenperä of the University of Turku in Finland, the daily presence of a grandmother enhances the reproductive success of her own children and the survival of her grandchildren.