Selection at implantation and longevity. A tentative theory.
Women enjoy a superior longevity, possibly at the price of a heavy loss of female conceptuses at an early stage of gestation. An immunological mechanism is proposed. A theory of selection at implantation is developed and generalized which leads to a new approach of longevity.
D001755:Blastocyst / Q000276:immunology; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012744:Sex Ratio