Pleiotropy, antagonistic

For many years, the theory of antagonistic pleiotropy dominated the field of ageing, and it is still one of the most prominent theories. There is certainly some truth in it. The theory is not at odds with the disposable soma theory — both are trade-offs, in which an individual s genetic resources are concentrated on reproductive prowess in youth at the expense of health later in life. However, the similarities between the two theories have often led one to be seen as a special case of the other. This is far from the truth. 

A common view of antagonistic pleiotropy is that our genes are out of step with our lifestyle. We spent half a million years evolving as hunter-gatherers. Restless wandering was combined with an ability to subsist on a meagre diet for weeks or months at a time. Then, a few thousand years... 

Late-acting genes and antagonistic pleiotropy (see also General texts)... 

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