Senescence and genetic load: evidence from Tribolium.
After 40 generations in which young adults were killed shortly after the onset of reproduction, strains of Tribolium castaneum with significantly decreased median longevity evolved. These findings support the hypothesis that the longevity of a species is controlled by genetic factors, and represents a compromise between selection for longer reproductive period and the limit set by environmental hazards.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D012098:Reproduction; D012641:Selection, Genetic