The Genetic Link Between Fertility and Lifespan

A study analyzing the genes of over 276,000 participants found that genetic variants promoting reproduction are associated with a shorter lifespan. The research supports the antagonistic pleiotropy hypothesis, which suggests that traits promoting fertility in early life can have negative consequences for health and longevity in old age. The study also found that genetic variants promoting reproduction have increased over generations, indicating ongoing human evolution. While environmental factors play a significant role in aging, the study highlights the strong influence of reproductive genes on the aging process and could have implications for understanding and preventing age-related diseases.