From: Mark Grant (mark@unicorn.com)
Date: Sat Jun 14 1997 - 05:54:08 MDT
On Fri, 13 Jun 1997, Dan Hook wrote:
> Menopause actually
> occurs regularly in primitive human societies (in other words, women live
> that long).
Of course; like I said, the fatal genes don't kill these women until after
they've stopped reproducing, and menopause is close enough to the normal
age of death in those societies that it isn't a big problem.
> Fertility is already in decline by that period (probably due
> to other agents already discussed) so being able to give birth would not
> result in a great success for the genes.
That seems like another circular argument. If the genes weren't reducing
fertility then they'd have a greater chance of success.
> It
> is a fallacy to think that genes don't "care" about a person after they
> have reproduced. Genes care about a person as long as the existence of
> that person is a benefit to the genes.
Of course it's some kind of compromise between all these factors.
Mark
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