Exam 3: Evolutionary Theories of Longevity and Aging

The foundation of mutation accumulation lies in the observation that a trade-off exists between ______ and ______.

Weismann proved that ______ cells alone transfer the chemicals of inheritance to the next generation.

Most likely without recognizing his finding,Medawar established the foundations for the theory that aging arises as a stochastic process resulting from ______,whereas longevity evolved from ______,as a by-product from genes important to survival to reproductive age.

Fisher's reproductive value indicates that fitness is greatest during youth.He noted that the peak of the reproductive value,or ______,seemed to coincide with the ______ rate of mortality.

Evolutionary theory predicts that organisms subjected to high predation will reproduce ______ and have ______ offspring than organisms reared in a stable population with low predation.

Briefly describe a laboratory experiment that evaluates whether the trade-off between reproduction and life span results from extrinsic factors. Evolution and Aging

Fisher was the first to suggest that solving for ______ provides a measure of fitness for an individual in a population.

Hamilton hypothesized that any population,even a stable population,could fluctuate in size at different ages,depending on age-specific mortality.______ was more likely to reflect reproductive potential at specific ages than the total integrative value over the life span.

Antagonistic pleiotropy predicts that genes conveying a benefit for fitness early in life will be selected even if they are ______ late in life.

trade-off hypothesis suggests that:

Population genetics is the science that focuses on the rate of growth and mortality characteristics of a population.

Genetic determinism implies that all genes are selected for:

Circle the correct answer: The finding that a gene linked to long life also produces deformed eggs is an example of the disposable soma theory / antagonistic pleiotropy.

The intrinsic rate of natural increase,r,is affected by birth and death rates.

Hamilton's force of natural selection on mortality declines after the start of reproduction.