Today is my 50th birthday. I’m very glad to be part of a species that lives so long, and it appears that I should thank other lusty old men, and especially the fertile young women who find them attractive. The
Article talks about the "wall of death" as though younger women and older men are the only factor diminishing its impact. That's not really right - selection for infant dependency and parental care also makes parents of both sexes live longer.
Since women typically live longer than men, a theory of longevity that only applies directly to extending male lifespan seems to have a somewhat questionable status. The case of women strongly indicates that there's something else going on. One should establish what that is - and then see if that is sufficient to explain the extended lifespan of males too.
While you've been alive, the planet you're on has orbited its sun a number of times equal to the product of the number of fingers you have on one hand and the number of fingers you have on both hands.
I only had time to scan the paper but it doesn't seem like they looked at how senescence - as they generally mean, past female fertility - may be a function of average life spans, meaning that selection to produce sufficient reproductive capabilities connect to average life spans and that may generate non-selected correlations or, in other words, longer potential life span.
As far as causes of human longevity: young women actually look for (older) men with resources, not only fertile men. That explains their abhorrence towards very old men, those that ‘may die at any moment’ – traditionally, women had no way to keep the material resources after the partner’s death.
What I think offers better explanation is the role grandmothers play in raising their grandchildren. (This is not my original idea, but I cannot remember where I read about this, so no link.) In essence, if grandmothers contribute significantly to survival of their own grandkids, that would promote lifespan to the point where their daughters hit menopause. Rapid decline in female fertility after the age of 35 gives lifespan (absent violent death and death from contagious deceases) of about 70 years.
Happy Birthday. I beat you to the milestone by a few months and have been an avid reader of this site for a long time.
Add my story to the pile of anecdotes. My wife's considerably younger and she's at home with the newest baby while I'm at the office (it's ok to surf the web when you're the boss) winning the bread. So far, so good.
I wonder though about the direction of causality. Having a young wife and kids keeps you younger; keeps you busy; keeps you getting up in the morning and hunting the woolly mammoths. Maybe that keeps you fertile longer. Or maybe I'm saying the same thing. Dunno.
Today I’m 50
Wow, you don't seem creepy or anything.
Just kidding!
........ or maybe it just makes you look older ......
Article talks about the "wall of death" as though younger women and older men are the only factor diminishing its impact. That's not really right - selection for infant dependency and parental care also makes parents of both sexes live longer.
Since women typically live longer than men, a theory of longevity that only applies directly to extending male lifespan seems to have a somewhat questionable status. The case of women strongly indicates that there's something else going on. One should establish what that is - and then see if that is sufficient to explain the extended lifespan of males too.
Happy birthday.
Just to keep things in perspective, you have the same birthday as my mother, who just turned 96. May you live so long as well.
Happy Birthday Robin. Here's to 500 more!
While you've been alive, the planet you're on has orbited its sun a number of times equal to the product of the number of fingers you have on one hand and the number of fingers you have on both hands.
Congratulations.
Happy birthday!
I only had time to scan the paper but it doesn't seem like they looked at how senescence - as they generally mean, past female fertility - may be a function of average life spans, meaning that selection to produce sufficient reproductive capabilities connect to average life spans and that may generate non-selected correlations or, in other words, longer potential life span.
50? Isn't that 10 Celsius?
I've heard that it's maternal grandmothers which contribute to the survival of their grandchildren, not grandmothers in general.
Happy Birthday to Robin and my condolences to all those who died too young to become his ancestors.
Sounds like Viagra might do more for life extension than frozen heads
May the cities in your wakeBurn like candles on your cakeIt's your birthday(thud)Happy birthday(thud)
Robin, happy birthday!
As far as causes of human longevity: young women actually look for (older) men with resources, not only fertile men. That explains their abhorrence towards very old men, those that ‘may die at any moment’ – traditionally, women had no way to keep the material resources after the partner’s death.
What I think offers better explanation is the role grandmothers play in raising their grandchildren. (This is not my original idea, but I cannot remember where I read about this, so no link.) In essence, if grandmothers contribute significantly to survival of their own grandkids, that would promote lifespan to the point where their daughters hit menopause. Rapid decline in female fertility after the age of 35 gives lifespan (absent violent death and death from contagious deceases) of about 70 years.
At the risk of being redundant, happy birthday!
Happy Birthday. I beat you to the milestone by a few months and have been an avid reader of this site for a long time.
Add my story to the pile of anecdotes. My wife's considerably younger and she's at home with the newest baby while I'm at the office (it's ok to surf the web when you're the boss) winning the bread. So far, so good.
I wonder though about the direction of causality. Having a young wife and kids keeps you younger; keeps you busy; keeps you getting up in the morning and hunting the woolly mammoths. Maybe that keeps you fertile longer. Or maybe I'm saying the same thing. Dunno.
No comment. :)