An international group of researchers has provided one of the most convincing confirmations of the well-known evolutionary theory that genes beneficial in youth can harm the organism in old age. It turns out that the gene vgll3 helps grow faster and reproduce earlier, but at the same time shortens lifespan and accelerates aging.
The main task of evolution is not to ensure a long life for an organism, but to increase its chances of successful reproduction. This is why genetic mechanisms that help reach sexual maturity faster and leave offspring have been reinforced through natural selection, even if they later lead to health deterioration.
Until recently, scientists lacked direct molecular evidence of how this evolutionary compromise works. However, a new study published in Nature Communications has allowed researchers to trace this process in practice.
A Gene That Accelerates Life
The authors of the study examined the gene vgll3 and found that it acts as a kind of biological speed switch for the development of the organism.
At early stages of life, high activity of this gene provides significant advantages: it accelerates growth, stimulates metabolism, and promotes earlier sexual maturation. As a result, such individuals begin to reproduce earlier than their peers and gain an advantage in the struggle to pass their genes to the next generation.
To test this hypothesis, scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, together with British colleagues, studied natural variants of the gene vgll3 in different fish populations.
An Ideal Model for Studying Aging
As a model, the researchers chose Nothobranchius furzeri—a small fish with an extremely short life cycle. This allowed scientists to trace the entire life path of the animals from birth to old age.
The results were quite indicative. Fish with the "fast" version of the gene developed noticeably faster and began to reproduce earlier. However, for this advantage, they had to pay with a shorter lifespan and faster aging of tissues.
Why Such a Price Arises
By studying cellular mechanisms, biologists discovered that vgll3 regulates crucial signaling pathways within cells.
By initiating programs of accelerated growth and maturation at a young age, this gene gradually depletes the organism's resources. Over time, the ability of tissues to recover decreases, the risk of age-related diseases increases, and the overall aging process accelerates.
According to the authors of the study, the results help to understand why evolution has not eliminated aging and many age-related diseases from living organisms.
What This Means for Humans
Particularly interesting is the fact that the gene vgll3 is also present in humans. Previously, scientists had already linked it to the age of onset of puberty.
New data allow for a fresh perspective on the mechanisms of aging and the development of age-related diseases. Researchers hope that further study of this gene will help better understand the nature of cancer and find new ways to affect tumor cells that utilize ancient evolutionary programs of accelerated growth.
The study confirmed one of the key ideas of evolutionary biology: the advantages that help an organism successfully reproduce in youth can come at a high cost in adulthood. The gene vgll3 turned out to be a vivid example of such a compromise—it accelerates development and increases reproductive success, but at the same time contributes to faster aging. The results obtained may be an important step toward understanding the causes of age-related diseases and finding new approaches to extending healthy life.
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