Sex and longevity

David Gems of
University College,
London, says that
contrary to held
belief, males are
genetically programmed to live
longer than female
but the relentless
pursuit of sex is
behind the shorter
average male life
span. During
research on a species
of worms, Gems
observed that isolated male worms
lived longer than
males kept together
or with females.
isolated females had
the same average life span as
those kept with
males, Gems put the
premature
deaths of male worms
down to too
much activity in
defending territory
and competing with
other males.
Humans are no
exception. A study
of 319 eunuchs in
1969 showed that
their median life
span was 13.4 years
longer than normal
males. Gems
also points out that
there are
fewer women above
the age of 90
than men (New
Scientist, Vol 154,
No 2083).