Ageing as “early-life inertia”: Disentangling life-history trade-offs along a lifetime of an individual

Abstract The theory that ageing evolves because of competitive resource allocation between the soma and germline has been challenged by studies showing somatic maintenance can be improved without impairing reproduction. However, it suggested cost-free improvement in is possible only under a narrow range benign conditions. Here, we show experimental downregulation insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) C. elegans nematodes, robustly reproducible life span- health span-extending treatment, reduces fitness complex variable environment when initiated during development but does not reduce adulthood. Thus, our results costs benefits reduced IIS uncoupled organisms inhabit environments, and, therefore, do provide support for theory. Our findings force natural selection on gene expression evolutionarily conserved pathways shape life-history traits declines after onset reproduction resulting organismal senescence.