Markov A V, Barg M A, Yakovleva E Yu
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia.
Biochemistry (Mosc). 2018 Dec;83(12):1504-1516. doi: 10.1134/S0006297918120088.
There are two points of view on the evolution of aging. The classical theory of aging suggests that natural selection does not efficiently eliminate mutations or alleles that are harmful to organisms at later age. Another hypothesis is that the genetic program of aging has evolved as an adaptation that contributes to the optimization of the evolutionary process. Academician V. P. Skulachev advocates the latter hypothesis, which he has illustrated with the "Fable of hares". In this paper, we have used computer simulation to search for conditions when, according to the "Fable", aging develops as an adaptation required for the evolution of useful traits. The simulation has shown that the evolutionary mechanism presented in the "Fable of hares" is only partially functional. We have found that under certain conditions, programmed deterioration of some organismal functions makes it possible to increase the efficiency of natural selection of other functions. However, we have not identified mechanisms that would ensure the distribution and support of genes of aging within the population.
关于衰老的进化有两种观点。经典的衰老理论认为，自然选择不能有效地消除那些在生物体晚年对其有害的突变或等位基因。另一种假说是，衰老的遗传程序已经进化成为一种有助于优化进化过程的适应性特征。V. P. 斯库拉乔夫院士支持后一种假说，他用“野兔寓言”对此进行了阐释。在本文中，我们利用计算机模拟来寻找根据“寓言”衰老作为有用性状进化所需的适应性特征而发展的条件。模拟结果表明，“野兔寓言”中提出的进化机制仅部分起作用。我们发现，在某些条件下，生物体某些功能的程序性退化能够提高对其他功能的自然选择效率。然而，我们尚未确定能确保衰老基因在种群中分布和维持的机制。
