New Research Suggests Dinosaurs May Have Played a Role in the Aging Process of Mammals
A new hypothesis proposed by microbiologist João Pedro de Magalhães from the University of Birmingham in the UK suggests that the dominance of dinosaurs millions of years ago could have had a significant impact on the aging process of mammals. In a newly published paper, de Magalhães presents the “longevity bottleneck” hypothesis, which explores the discrepancy between the aging of mammals and reptiles and amphibians.
According to de Magalhães, the pressure of surviving alongside dinosaurs may have led to a genetic selection for rapid reproduction in mammals, potentially leading to the discard of genes for longer lifespans. “Some of the earliest mammals were forced to live towards the bottom of the food chain, and have likely spent 100 million years during the age of the dinosaurs evolving to survive through rapid reproduction,” explains de Magalhães. This prolonged evolutionary pressure may have had an impact on the way humans age today.
The research also notes that ancient eutherian mammal ancestors appear to have lost certain enzymes that repair damage caused by ultraviolet light around the time of the dinosaurs. This loss of enzymes, known as photolyases, may have contributed to the aging process in mammals.
Furthermore, the study examines other differences between mammals and reptiles, such as the ability for certain reptiles to keep growing teeth throughout their lives, and the remarkable repair and regeneration found in some animal species. These differences may also be attributed to genetic selection dating back to the age of the dinosaurs.
While the “longevity bottleneck” hypothesis is currently just an hypothesis, de Magalhães believes that it could have implications for understanding age-related diseases, including dementia and stroke. Future research may also explore the potential connection between the rapid aging process in mammals and the frequency of cancer in comparison to other species.
The research has been published in the journal BioEssays, and it opens up intriguing angles for further exploration into the factors behind aging and longevity in mammals. Understanding these genetic and evolutionary factors may offer insights that could aid in the fight against age-related diseases.