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A large-scale analysis of 117 mammal species found that preventing reproduction is associated with longer lifespans, suggesting a strong link between reproductive activity and life expectancy.
SciTechDaily
Why do some animals live for decades while others survive only a few years? Female elephants can reach 80 years of age, yet they typically produce only a small number of calves. Mice, in contrast, usually live just a few years, but in theory can have well over a hundred offspring. Evolutionary theory links these patterns to a core trade-off: species must divide limited energy between reproduction and maintaining the body. A new large-scale study adds broad evidence that this balance influences longevity across many mammals, including humans.
They analyzed records from 117 mammal species kept in zoos and aquariums around the world. Zoos, where reproduction is carefully managed, provide a unique setting to study these dynamics. Animals may receive contraception or sterilization to prevent breeding, creating natural comparison groups within the same environment.
One reason may be that reproduction requires major biological investment. Pregnancy and lactation demand energy, and so do sperm production, mating behaviors, and parental care. Even outside of breeding, sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen continue to affect growth, behavior, and aging, potentially drawing resources away from long-term body maintenance.
Data on the effects of castration and sterilization in humans is rare. Some historical data, such as those of Korean Eunuchs in the pre-19th-century Chosun Dynasty, suggest that castrated men lived, on average, 18 percent longer than non-castrated men.
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So anybody her gonna test this out? I'll pass.
SciTechDaily
Why do some animals live for decades while others survive only a few years? Female elephants can reach 80 years of age, yet they typically produce only a small number of calves. Mice, in contrast, usually live just a few years, but in theory can have well over a hundred offspring. Evolutionary theory links these patterns to a core trade-off: species must divide limited energy between reproduction and maintaining the body. A new large-scale study adds broad evidence that this balance influences longevity across many mammals, including humans.
They analyzed records from 117 mammal species kept in zoos and aquariums around the world. Zoos, where reproduction is carefully managed, provide a unique setting to study these dynamics. Animals may receive contraception or sterilization to prevent breeding, creating natural comparison groups within the same environment.
One reason may be that reproduction requires major biological investment. Pregnancy and lactation demand energy, and so do sperm production, mating behaviors, and parental care. Even outside of breeding, sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen continue to affect growth, behavior, and aging, potentially drawing resources away from long-term body maintenance.
Data on the effects of castration and sterilization in humans is rare. Some historical data, such as those of Korean Eunuchs in the pre-19th-century Chosun Dynasty, suggest that castrated men lived, on average, 18 percent longer than non-castrated men.
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So anybody her gonna test this out? I'll pass.