Scientists are finally beginning to understand one of life’s enduring mysteries - why women live, on average, longer than men.
The new research describes how mutations to the DNA of the mitochondria can account for differences in the life expectancy of males and females.
They found that genetic variation across these mitochondria were reliable predictors of life expectancy in males, but not in females.
Dr Dowling said the results point to numerous mutations within mitochondrial DNA that affect how long males live, and the speed at which they age.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2182717/The-reason-women-generally-live-longer-men-genes-according-new-research.html
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-women-live-longer
The new research describes how mutations to the DNA of the mitochondria can account for differences in the life expectancy of males and females.
They found that genetic variation across these mitochondria were reliable predictors of life expectancy in males, but not in females.
Dr Dowling said the results point to numerous mutations within mitochondrial DNA that affect how long males live, and the speed at which they age.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2182717/The-reason-women-generally-live-longer-men-genes-according-new-research.html
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-women-live-longer