Fruit flies can give clues to
what happens in other species
But one ageing expert said there were many factors that explained the gender difference in life expectancy. By the age of 85, there are approximately six women for every four men in the UK, and by 100 the ratio is more than two to one. And females outlive males in many other species.
In the research, experts from Australia's Monash University and the UK's Lancaster University analyzed the mitochondria of 13 different groups of male and female fruit flies. Mitochondria, which exist in almost all animal cells, convert food into the energy that powers the body.
Dr Damian Dowling, of Monash University who was one of
the researchers, said the results point to numerous mutations within
mitochondrial DNA that affect how long males live, and the speed at which they
age.
"Intriguingly, these same mutations have no effects on patterns of ageing in
females," he said. "All animals possess mitochondria, and the tendency for females to outlive males is common to many different species.
"Our results therefore suggest that the mitochondrial mutations we have uncovered will generally cause faster male ageing across the animal kingdom."
They suggest this is because there is no evolutionary reason for the faults that affect males to be picked up - because mitochondria are passed down by females. Dr Dowling added: "If a mitochondrial mutation occurs that harms fathers, but has no effect on mothers, this mutation will slip through the gaze of natural selection, unnoticed.
"Over thousands of generations, many such mutations have accumulated that harm only males, while leaving females unscathed."
Well ladies, we have an advantage here and I am sure there is a good reason for it. Maybe our men are not designed not to oulive their usefullness. Therefore, we must be more biologically useful. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
The Genie
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