Comparative demography of isogenic populations of Caenorhabditis elegans.
Demographic characteristics of the bacterial-feeding nematode Caenorhabditis elegans were determined in two long-lived mutant strains, TJ1052 (age-1), CB4876 (clk-1), and a wild-type strain, N2. Within each strain, there was little correlation between longevity and reproduction for individuals that lived longer than 10days. Long-lived mutant strains produced fewer eggs than the wild type. Mean total life spans were 13.2days for the wild type, 21.9days for age-1, and 15.8days for clk-1; maximum life spans were 24days for the wild type, 47days for age-1, and 32days for clk-1. Differences in total life span resulted primarily from longer post-reproductive survival. The mean post-reproductive life spans were longer than the wild type by 183% in age-1 and 60% in clk-1. We conclude that (i) post-reproductive survival is not correlated with egg production within isogenic populations of C. elegans, and (ii) the relationship between reproduction and longevity differs among isogenic populations with specific longevity genes.
Department of Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. carlchen@mailbox.ucdavis.edu
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Chen
J R
JR
Carey
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Ferris
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D010058:Oviposition; D012098:Reproduction; D013045:Species Specificity