Human females have a lifespan of over 80 years. However, the trait of living for eight decades is somewhat of a puzzle to evolutionary biologists. Why might that be?
A) The genes responsible for long life have not been identified.
B) The lifespan of human females is slightly longer than human males.
C) Women who live to be 80 don't have better relative fitness than women who live to be 50.
D) Long life can be a burden for an individual.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Evolutionary biologists question why females have evolved to live beyond their reproductive years. It is unclear whether living longer provides an evolutionary advantage, as it does not necessarily increase relative fitness (i.e. the ability to pass on genes to the next generation). Therefore, it is thought that the trait of living for over 80 years may be somewhat of a puzzle to evolutionary biologists.

Human Females Have a Lifespan of Over 80 Years