Research report 2009 - Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
Life, aging, and dying: A review across species
Authors
Schaible, Ralf; Rebke, Maren; Cassens, Insa; Scheuerlein, Alexander
Departments
Summary
The process of aging is more plastic than is commonly assumed and stipulated by classical theory on the evolution of aging. Deviations abound across the tree of life: There are species that do not age, and species that escape a steady increase in mortality. In some species, mortality even declines in certain phases of life. An analysis of these species’ life-history strategies may answer the question: How is it possible to live long?