Evolution of Longevity in Animals: A Comparative Approach

✍ Scribed by Robert Arking (auth.), Avril D. Woodhead, Keith H. Thompson (eds.)

• Publisher: Springer US
• Year: 1987
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 351
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

The analysis of intra-group correlations between LS and BW at representative intervals yields no consistent support for the hypothesis that lower BW is associated with longer LS. Indeed, among male Wistar rats and C57BL/6J and A/J mice followed since weaning on AL diets, the data suggested that relatively higher BW across the adult LS was generally associated with longer life. Even when the diet was restricted by EOD or RES regimens, this pattern of positive correlations between LS and BW persisted for the C57BL/6J and A/J strains when relative ages were analyzed. However, when BW at absolute ages were correlated with LS, support for the positive relationship between BW and LS was not as forthcoming. When AL groups were assessed beginning at later ages (> 10 months), the pattern of positive correlations was very evident for the Wistar rats--heavier rats tended to liver longer. This pattern was also evident among AL-fed C57BL/6J mice followed since 6 months, but was lost in the 10-month group in this strain. Among A/J mice on AL diets, the pattern became somewhat negative when followed at 6 and 10 months of age. However, among both C57BL/6J and A/J mice placed on EOD diets at 6 and 10 months of age, the pattern clearly tended toward the positive.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages i-x
Genetic and Environmental Determinants of Longevity in Drosophila ....Pages 1-22
Informational Structure of the Developmental Tree of Multi-Cellular Organisms....Pages 23-33
Genetic and Environmental Manipulation of Aging in Caenorhabditis elegans ....Pages 35-48
Scaling of Maximal Lifespan in Mammals: A Review....Pages 49-74
Why Should Senescence Evolve? An Answer Based on a Simple Demographic Model....Pages 75-90
Mutant Genes That Extend Life Span....Pages 91-100
Longevity in the Protozoa....Pages 101-109
The Heredity-Environment Continuum: A Systems Analysis....Pages 111-122
The Proximate and Ultimate Control of Aging in Drosophila and Humans....Pages 123-133
The Many Genetics of Aging....Pages 135-144
Lifespan Environmental Influences on Species Typical Behavior of Meriones Unguiculatus ....Pages 145-159
Longevity in Fish: Some Ecological and Evolutionary Considerations....Pages 161-185
Evolutionary Reliability Theory....Pages 187-192
Programmed Cell Death and Aging in Drosophila Melanogaster ....Pages 193-207
Immortality of the Germ-Line versus Disposability of the Soma....Pages 209-218
Systems Ecology, Operations Research and Gerontology: The Making of Strange Bedfellows....Pages 219-233
Demographic Consequences of Natural Selection....Pages 235-245
The Relationship of Body Weight to Longevity within Laboratory Rodent Species....Pages 247-282
Is Cellular Senescence Genetically Programmed?....Pages 283-294
Information Content of Biological Survival Curves Arising in Aging Experiments: Some Further Thoughts....Pages 295-317
The Microscope (Reductionist) or the Telescope (Holistic)?....Pages 319-330
Remarks of the Moderator....Pages 331-333
The Future of Aging Research....Pages 335-337
Survival Analysis: Lessons from Quantitative Genetics....Pages 339-343
Back Matter....Pages 345-354

✦ Subjects

Geriatrics/Gerontology