From: Ramez Naam (mez@apexnano.com)
Date: Wed Apr 02 2003 - 10:19:15 MST
From: BillK [mailto:bill@wkidston.freeserve.co.uk]
> There is also discussion that antagonistic pleiotropy itself doesn't
> exist either. (See footnote below)
>
> It is suggested that the evolutionary theory of senescence
> should be focused on those evolutionary principles that have been
> validated experimentally, and that the notion of antagonistic
> pleiotropy be dropped from theories of the evolution of
> senescence.
Antagonistic pleiotropy has been demonstrated many times in the lab.
Several genetic mutations have been found which increase mean and
maximum lifespan of animals but which introduce features that reduce
survivability or fertility.
Thus, the alleles that lack these mutations are examples of
antagonistic pleiotropy - they help the animal survive or breed at an
early age, but hasten the aging process and thus death.
mez
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