Explain the cause of longevity of the first animals

Biologists believe that in many social animals, genetic characteristics allow the herds to live longer, resist age-related diseases , and in the meerkat civet, The social hierarchy determines the risk of death when the leading animals often die naturally, while the dependent ones are often killed suddenly.

According to Current Biology magazine, biologists discovered that the top meerkat civets occupy the highest position in the herd hierarchy, often aging much faster than their peers. However, this does not prevent them from living longer than subordinate individuals. It is known that the meerkat civet is named Suricata suricatta science or also known as the civet, ferret, African weasel, civet, weasel is a small mammal, a member of the mongoose family and the only species. of Suricata.

The first meerkat civet often lives long - (Photo: Dominic Cram - Cambridge University).

The herds of many herd animals often live longer than others, although they have a heavy burden of responsibility to maintain their leadership and mating position. Biologists say these animals have genetic characteristics that allow them to fight age-related diseases. In some insects, such as bees, scientists have actually found such genetic features. However, in the case of mammals, scientists do not find similar features.

In the new study, biologists have studied the lifespan of the meerkat civet or civet - mammal with a strict hierarchy, living in herds of up to 50 individuals. In these animals, the pair of meerkat civets dominates up to 90% of all females in the herd. Scientists have found that the DNA of the early birds shows signs of increased aging, but this does not prevent them from living longer than the lower levels: the average life span of the first is 4.4 years compared to 2.8 years for other animals in the herd. It turns out, the problem is that subordinate individuals looking for mating partners are often forced to leave the flock, a dangerous job. The first children were absent an average of 2 hours in a year, while those under their control were absent on average for 6 days.

The main author of the study, biologist Dominic Cram at the University of Cambridge (UK) explained that the leading meerkat civets often die due to stress, causing their health to die slowly to death and this can be predicted. First, that is 'a natural death'. And meerkat civets on the last rung of the herd hierarchy are often killed because of sudden and unpredictable situations, for example, to become prey of predators, ie the location of These animals in the social hierarchy determine the risk of death.