Put Up Your Dukes!

Posted by Liz on May 14, 2008 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that women rapidly stop producing reproductive hormones around mid-life to reduce competition with younger females in the same family unit…in other words, a majority of women cease to have the ability to breed so that the next generation can step in. Evolutionary-wise, this hard-wiring was established to reduce the likelihood of reproductive conflict with younger females who might marry our sons. The researchers explain that their study helps to explain the timing of these events.

Unlike other primates, humans also tend to live a long time after menopause. Researchers believe that this may have evolved from a need for mothers to share food with their children in order to enhance the next generation’s own fertility.

A great write-up of these two studies can be found here.