Previously, scientists believed that aging is a mechanism that emerged during evolution that makes it possible to increase
In a new work, researchers followedthe behavior of worms of the species C. elegans - nematode worms that share part of the genes with humans and have a short lifespan. Therefore, they often become a model for experiments aimed at slowing down the aging of cells.
Scientists already know that mutations in the genes of nematodes of this species can significantly increase their life expectancy by partially “disabling” the aging mechanism.
In a new study, biologists made upcomputer simulation of the life of a colony of C. elegans, whose subsistence was limited. The analysis showed that nematodes also have a mechanism for reducing life expectancy - in other words, death for the sake of the interests of the colony. According to the simulation, a reduction in the life span of individual worms increases the reproductive capacity of the colony.
"Our findings are consistent with the old theorythat aging is beneficial in terms of increasing food availability for younger individuals. But adaptive death can only develop under certain conditions, when populations of closely related individuals do not mix with non-relatives. Our study shows that adaptive death is not specific to humans, but appears to occur frequently in colony-living microorganisms."
David James, lead author of the study
Previously, scientists showed how a change in the aging mechanism of nematode worm cells prolonged his life by five times.