Evolution of ageing

T. B. L. Kirkwood

doi:10.1038/270301a0

Abstract

An evolutionary view of ageing suggests that mortality may be due to an energy-saving strategy of reduced error regulation in somatic cells. This supports Orgel's ‘error catastrophe’ hypothesis and offers a new basis for the study of normal and abnormal ageing syndromes and of apparently immortal transformed cell lines.

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National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Holly Hill, London NW3 6RB.
- T. B. L. Kirkwood

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Published

24 November 1977

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/270301a0

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