A new research from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, shows a relation between reproduction and lifespan, based on latest genetic techniques, says University's news release.
The new study shows having children in the later stage of life and having fewer children can impact an individual in living longer. Researchers found the most important factor that is called telomeres, found on the each end of chromosomes which protect the cells from dying.
Telomeres are found on each chromosome and have a certain length, which reduces every time the cell splits, and finally the cells die when these telomeres lose the capability to protect the chromosomes. The length of telomeres can be different among species of same age either due to inheritance from the parents or due to exposure to stress, says the news release.
"This is important, not least for our own species, as we are all having to deal with increased stress," says Angela Pauliny, Researcher from the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Gothenburg.
The researchers conducted the study on barnacle geese, which have long life span. These birds were compared with short-lived bird species and found that the barnacle geese were able to conserve the length of the telomeres for a longer time. It was noted that these species indulged more in activities like maintaining bodily functions than reproduction. Pauliny explained the correlation between reproduction and ageing among animals; for example, elephants live longer and have less offspring, while mice reproduce in larger number and have a short lifespan.
Researchers randomly chose the geese into their study with young and old ones included. The oldest was 22-years old. The birds were tested once in every two years and noted the length of their telomeres. It was found that the length differed from gender to gender.
"The study revealed that telomeres were best-preserved in males. Among barnacle geese, the telomeres thus shorten more quickly in females, which in birds is the sex with two different gender chromosomes. Interestingly, it is the exactl opposite in humans," Pauliny said in the news release.
The study has been published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology titled as "Telomere dynamics in a long-lived bird, the barnacle goose."
