Scientists from Cornell University have discovered a new factor for the longevity of animals and humans. According to a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), it is influenced by the presence of mothers and grandmothers.
Researchers developed a universal mathematical model demonstrating the relationship between maternal survival and offspring fitness, as well as species longevity. The model is supplemented by data on maternal survival and offspring fitness, allowing predictions of how maternal care affects lifespan development.
The results of the study show that in animals in which maternal care plays a decisive role in the survival of the offspring, evolution proceeds in the direction of increasing life expectancy and decreasing the frequency of reproduction. Examples of such species include not only primates, but also hyenas, whales, and elephants. This highlights a common pattern among mammals.
The study extends the mother-grandmother hypothesis, which was based on observations of human populations in the 18th and 19th centuries. This theory states that offspring have a better chance of survival if they have mothers and grandmothers in their lives. The new model takes into account more aspects that influence offspring fitness, such as maternal survival from weaning to puberty.