How does body size relate to longevity? We know larger species (usually) live longer, though smaller animals within those species live longest. Uncovering the secrets behind why large animals and oddballs like the naked mole rat live so long will help us fight age-related diseases. read more
The phenomenon is well known to dog lovers: Dogs from bigger breeds don’t live as long as smaller ones. The small breeds have an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years; for larger breeds, it's 8 to 10; and for the so-called “giant breeds,” lifespan is 5 to 8 years. read more
Little animals that get eaten a lot, like mice and rabbits, wouldn't get any use out of a body that would survive for 70 years, so they wear out after 2 or 5 years. Big animals are harder to eat than tiny ones, so they can make use of bodies that last longer. The counterexamples are more evidence of this. read more
originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Adriana Heguy, Genomics researcher, on Quora: The issue of body size and lifespan is a fascinating topic in biology. read more