Evolutionally Theory of Aging

There are two commonly asked questions about the lifespan of humans. The first is why does the rate of aging differ so dramatically among different species of animals? The second one is why are there more short lived species than long lived ones?Darwin's theory of evolution is the best way to understand why there are so many differences between the different species. Species who can adapt to their environment are the ones who live the longest. Long life is a great plus for an individual but in many cases doesn't help a species as a whole. Spontaneous mutations allow organisms to evolve; these mutations are random changes that take place in the DNA. The vast majority of mutations are harmful but a small number of them can be advantageous. When the external environment is perpetually changing then a high rate of reproduction can be an advantage as it means that there is a greater likelihood that a mutant offspring will be more adaptable to the new conditions.

In the majority of situations, evolution tends toward a high rate of reproduction and a shorter lifespan as these speed up the rate of adaptation. Long lived organisms are not only usually slower in being able to reproduce but they also usually survive for many years after they are not longer able to reproduce, thereby competing for resources with their younger peers.

Humans are a perfect example of long living species. There seem to be many evolutionary reasons why people have longer lifespan than other mammals. Our advance brain gives us a big advantage but full development of the brain takes a long time. We are also able to deal with negative changes in our environment by building artificial habitats; developing new ways to produce food and other was adapt the outside world to what we need. People are the only species that do not need to go through evolutionary change simply to survive in our current environment. The downside of this is that with a lack of evolutionary pressure for humans to develop a longer lifespan. The good news is that we can use our advanced brains to work on finding ways to slow down the aging process.