[Kenna]

Interesting premise. While the relationship between size and metabolism doesn’t hold true for all organisms (endoliths, as an extreme example), it is somewhat reliable. However, I am doubtful that it works as a unified theory. There are many things which may affect aging, from stress to UV rays to free radicals working in conjunction with oxygen toxicity.

The longest living animals in the world tend to be aquatic. Whales are quite large and have few predators. Far less than any mouse, anyway. With more predators comes more stress. This probably has a significant effect on telomerase shortening. They also tend to be less exposed to UV rays than terrestrial animals. And lastly, just as another possible, small creatures have very high respiration rates. Could not free radicals be formed more quickly because of this?

[Meadow Rain]

Glad you brought this up and although this might not correlate directly to your subject l love nature trees animals , pond life.etc… and l consider myself a naturalist and not nerdy at all…..l think.
Also l was sent a picture of a very simplistic mini octopus that is vertually immortal.
I will try to send the picture somehow.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 5 months ago by Meadow Rain.

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