Human longevity at the cost of reproductive success

被引:361
作者
Westendorp, RGJ
Kirkwood, TBL
机构
[1] Leiden Univ, Med Ctr CO P, Dept Gen Internal Med & Clin Epidemiol, Sect Gerontol & Geriatr, NL-2300 RC Leiden, Netherlands
[2] Univ Manchester, Sch Biol Sci, Manchester M13 9PT, Lancs, England
[3] Univ Manchester, Dept Geriatr Med, Biol Gerontol Grp, Manchester M13 9PT, Lancs, England
关键词
D O I
10.1038/25519
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
The disposable soma theory on the evolution of ageing states that longevity requires investments in somatic maintenance that reduce the resources available for reproduction(1,2), Experiments in Drosophila melanogaster indicate that trade-offs of this kind exist in non-human species(3-7). We have determined the interrelationship between longevity and reproductive success in Homo sapiens using a historical data set from the British aristocracy. The number of progeny was small when women died at an early age, increased with the age of death, reaching a plateau through the sixth, seventh and eighth decades of life, but decreased again in women who died at an age of 80 years or over. Age at first childbirth was lowest in women who died early and highest for women who died at the oldest ages. When account was taken only of women who had reached menopause, who were aged 60 years and over, female longevity was negatively correlated with number of progeny and positively correlated with age at first childbirth. The findings show that human life histories involve a trade-off between longevity and reproduction.
引用
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页码:743 / 746
页数:4
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