Exploring senescence across the tree of life

衰老是一种进化悖论，在达到成熟后，随着年龄的增长，死亡和生殖能力下降的风险越来越大。一个对适应性的基本支柱有害的过程怎么会在自然选择的幌子下进化呢？许多理论试图解释这种违反直觉的现象。一般来说，自然选择的力量随着年龄的增长而减弱是最受支持的答案。然而，最近，人口统计数据的爆炸和对既定理论的批判性重新分析表明，整个生命树的衰老模式是可变的，选择的力量可能并不总是随着年龄的增长而减弱。总之，这些证据表明，我们对推动衰老进化和逃避衰老的过程的理解还远远没有完成。这篇博士论文将探讨这些发展所产生的未开发的研究途径。其最终目标是扩展衰老的理论框架，以更好地纳入以前未考虑的因素，这些因素可能会驱动这些经验观察到的模式，特别关注社会性。我建议使用理论，比较和实验方法相结合，以解决为什么一些，但不是所有的物种衰老。BBSRC优先领域了解生命之树中衰老模式的多样性对于人类延长自身健康和寿命的斗争至关重要。因此，我的博士论文将讨论BBSRC的“整个生命过程中的健康老龄化”研究重点。此外，我将汇编和使用人口统计信息的大型数据集，从而为BBSRC的“数据驱动生物学”做出贡献。

Senescence, the increasing risk of mortality and decline in reproduction with age after achieving maturity, is an evolutionary paradox. How can a process detrimental to the fundamental pillars of fitness evolve under the guise of natural selection? Many theories have sought to explain this counterintuitive phenomenon. Generally, the weakening of the strength of natural selection with age is the most supported answer. Recently, however, explosions of demographic data and critical re-analyses of established theory have revealed that patterns of senescence across the tree of life are variable, and that the strength of selection may not always weaken with age. Together, these lines of evidence suggest that our understanding of the processes that drive the evolution of, and escape from, senescence, is far from complete. This doctoral thesis will explore untapped avenues of research born out of these developments. Its ultimate goal is to extend the theoretical framework of senescence to better incorporate previously unconsidered factors likely to be driving these empirically observed patterns, with a particular focus on sociality. I propose to use a combination of theoretical, comparative, and experimental methodology to tackle why some but not all species senesce. BBSRC Priority AreasUnderstanding the diversity of ageing patterns across the tree of life is essential to humanity's battle to extend our own health and lifespans. My doctoral thesis will, therefore, address the "Healthy ageing across the lifecourse" research priority for the BBSRC. In addition, I will compile and work with large data sets of demographic information, thus contributing to the BBSRC's "Data driven biology" remit.