What fecundity patterns indicate about aging and longevity: insights from Drosophila studies.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

The age pattern of fecundity is represented as a result of a superposition of two processes: the genetic fecundity program encoded in the organism's reproductive machinery and senescence of the reproductive system. Accumulation of oxidative damage produces the energy decline, which could potentially be used in reproduction. As a result, the age-declining process arises in the reproductive machinery at a critical age. We show that this mechanism is common for different species. It establishes a connection between the decline of organism vitality and reproductive senescence. We suggest a parametric description of a fecundity pattern that allows for prediction of reproductive longevity. We apply the approach to Drosophila studies to analyze the relation between fecundity and survival. We show that fecundity patterns may predict a mean life span in Drosophila under specified environmental conditions.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Novoseltsev, VN; Novoseltseva, JA; Boyko, SI; Yashin, AI

Published Date

  • June 2003

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 58 / 6

Start / End Page

  • 484 - 494

PubMed ID

  • 12807919

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1758-535X

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1079-5006

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1093/gerona/58.6.b484

Language

  • eng