It's been revealed why women live longer than men
Oct 02, 2025
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A joint research team led by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany recently published the findings in the international journal 『Science Advances』 published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
The research team said that the secret to a woman's longevity lies in 'heterogametic sex theory' and evolutionary factors.
Men are heterogenerative with X and Y chromosomes, which are more vulnerable to genetic mutations or diseases.
On the other hand, women have two X chromosomes, so there are protective devices that can offset harmful genetic mutations.
According to the study, females tended to live longer than males not only in humans but also in mammals such as chimpanzees and gorillas. This is analyzed as a result of genetic structure and evolutionary selection. On the other hand, in some animals, such as birds, insects, and reptiles, males sometimes live longer, showing biological diversity.
For this analysis, the research team analyzed 528 mammal species and 648 bird data collected from zoos around the world.
As a result, 72% of mammals were female and 68% of birds were male. This supports the 'isomorphogenic theory' that differences in chromosome structure by sex affect survival rates.
In addition, the research team explained that gender selection and parenting roles also affect the difference in life expectancy.
Males have evolved ostentatious traits such as large build, colorful feathers, and horns to benefit from mating competition, but this may act as a disadvantageous factor for survival. Females, on the other hand, invest more energy in raising their children and have been under evolutionary pressure to survive until their children become independent.
Environmental factors have long been blamed for life differences, but the research team emphasized that inheritance and evolution are more fundamental causes in that gender life differences persist even in protected environments such as zoos.
The research team said, "It shows that the difference in life expectancy according to gender is not just an environmental result, but a phenomenon deeply rooted in the evolutionary history of mankind.""Future social and behavioral factors should also be considered."," he said.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
