THURSDAY, Aug. 2 HealthDay News)--New research shows that mutations to the DNA of mitochondria to cause men to age faster than women--a statement that may explain why women, on average, outlive men.
Researchers from Monash University in Australia examined male and female fruit flies, which transported mitochondria--the part of the cell that converts food into energy--the origin of the variety. It appeared that genetic variants in mitochondria predicted life expectancy in males, but not in the case of females. Researchers found that several of the mutations in the mitochondria DNA affects how quickly men aged and their durability.
"Intriguingly, these same mutations do not affect the patterns of aging in females. They affect only males, "Dr. Damian Dowling, of the school of biological sciences, Monash University, said in a news release. "All animals have the mitochondria, and tendency to outlive males to females is common to many different species. Our results therefore suggest that mutations mitochondrialnego, which we have no cover will generally faster aging of the male sex in the Animal Kingdom. "
Mutations result from the way in which mitochondrial genes are passed down from one generation to the next, noted the authors of the study.
"When the children receive copies of most of their genes both their mothers and fathers, only receive the mitochondrial gene from their mothers. This means that the quality control process in evolution, known as natural selection, only the screen quality of mitochondrial genes in the dams, "explained Dowling. "If the mitochondrial mutation occurs injures fathers, but does not affect mothers, the mutation will be using through the gaze of natural selection, without return. Over thousands of generations, many such mutations have accumulated that harm only to males, females, leaving unscathed. "
The authors of the study said that they intend to continue their research and study ways to reverse the genetic mutation, which negatively affect women's life.
Research has been published in current biology, Aug. 2.
--Mary Elizabeth Dallas 
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Source: Monash University, news release, Aug. 2, 2012
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