It turns out that older men chasing younger women contributes to human longevity and the survival of the species, according to new findings by researchers at Stanford and the University of California-Santa Barbara.
Evolutionary theory says that individuals should die of old age when their reproductive lives are complete, generally by age 55 in humans, according to demographer Cedric Puleston, a doctoral candidate in biological sciences at Stanford. But the fatherhood of a small number of older men is enough to postpone the date with death because natural selection fights life-shortening mutations until the species is finished reproducing.
You try telling that to most "young women" prancing around with their earpods stuck in their ears, eyepods stuck in their eyes, mobile phones clutched in their hands and showing a general contempt for anyone above 18 who doesn't look like Brad Pitt...! Obviously they're not interested in the survival of the species!
In response to: It turns out that older men chasing younger women contributes to human longevity and the survival of the species, according to new findings by researchers at Stanford and the University of California-Santa Barbara.
Evolutionary theory says that individuals should die of old age when their reproductive lives are complete, generally by age 55 in humans, according to demographer Cedric Puleston, a doctoral candidate in biological sciences at Stanford. But the fatherhood of a small number of older men is enough to postpone the date with death because natural selection fights life-shortening mutations until the species is finished reproducing.
Hmmm - not sure about this! There's been a massive increase in life expectancy for both men and women over the last 100 years or so. In the 1900s, life expectancy at birth for both men and women was around 50 - what this study is saying would be "natural" if it were based on fertility. In the late 1990s is was around 80, with women living a 4 or 5 years longer, on average.
If you go back to 1800, life expectancy at birth was about 35. I think developments in sanitation and health care have a lot more to do with our average life span than any evolutionary forces!
tainogirlTrincity,West Indies,, Trinidad and Tobago3,777 posts
sambhava: You try telling that to most "young women" prancing around with their earpods stuck in their ears, eyepods stuck in their eyes, mobile phones clutched in their hands and showing a general contempt for anyone above 18 who doesn't look like Brad Pitt...! Obviously they're not interested in the survival of the species!
tainogirlTrincity,West Indies,, Trinidad and Tobago3,777 posts
I'm trying to picture some old dude(a la Anna Nicole Smith)chasing after me in his wheelchair or walker,barely an original tooth in his mouth (if any) claiming he wants to contribute to the longevity of the species. The romance of this escapes me.
friendsfirst: It turns out that older men chasing younger women contributes to human longevity and the survival of the species, according to new findings by researchers at Stanford and the University of California-Santa Barbara.
Evolutionary theory says that individuals should die of old age when their reproductive lives are complete, generally by age 55 in humans, according to demographer Cedric Puleston, a doctoral candidate in biological sciences at Stanford. But the fatherhood of a small number of older men is enough to postpone the date with death because natural selection fights life-shortening mutations until the species is finished reproducing.
tainogirl: I'm trying to picture some old dude(a la Anna Nicole Smith)chasing after me in his wheelchair or walker,barely an original tooth in his mouth (if any) claiming he wants to contribute to the longevity of the species. The romance of this escapes me.
but if he were worth billions and one foot in the grave the other slipping fast you would have to think twice
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Evolutionary theory says that individuals should die of old age when their reproductive lives are complete, generally by age 55 in humans, according to demographer Cedric Puleston, a doctoral candidate in biological sciences at Stanford. But the fatherhood of a small number of older men is enough to postpone the date with death because natural selection fights life-shortening mutations until the species is finished reproducing.
Discuss.