Evolutionary Biology: The Role of Sexual Selection in Lifespan Differences
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: General Science (Biology - Evolution, Sexual Selection, Genetics, Sex-determination systems like XY and ZW).
Mains: This topic is more relevant for optional subjects like Zoology or Anthropology. However, the concepts can be used as examples in GS Paper 3 (Biodiversity) or GS Paper 4 (Ethics, if discussing natural world analogies).
Key Highlights from the News
A new study reveals that among mammals, females generally have a longer lifespan than males. 🐁
However, the opposite is true for birds; male birds live longer than female birds. 🦜
The main reason for this difference in lifespan is not sex chromosomes, but rather factors related to sexual selection, such as competition for mates and differences in body size.
This trend is more pronounced in wild populations compared to animals in zoos. This indicates how the pressures of survival in nature affect lifespan.
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