title: Gerontology. Mutation, variation and the evolution of ageing.
abstract: A recent experiment provides evidence that ageing is partly due to mutations with deleterious effects late in life that have been retained in the population as selection against them is weak.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Biometry, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Partridge
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prowse
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D012641:Selection, Genetic