M. J. P. Simons

DNA repair and anti-cancer mechanisms in the longest-living mammal: the bowhead whale

This study investigates DNA repair mechanisms in bowhead whales, showing their high efficiency and accuracy in repairing DNA damage, which may explain their long lifespan without cancer.

The optimal clutch size revisited: separating individual quality from the parental survival costs of reproduction

This study uses meta-analysis to show that reproductive effort and survival trade-offs are not consistently supported within species, as quality differences mask costs, and reproduction has negligible costs except at extreme effort levels.

Amino acid availability is not essential for lifespan extension by dietary restriction in the fly

This study shows that essential amino acids are not required for lifespan extension by dietary restriction in flies, but they do enhance fecundity.

Age-dependent effects of reduced mTor signalling on life expectancy through distinct physiology

This study shows that reducing mTor signaling in old age decreases mortality, while early transient reduction has long-lasting benefits, suggesting age-dependent effects of mTor on aging.

The hidden costs of dietary restriction: implications for its evolutionary and mechanistic origins

This study tests evolutionary predictions about dietary restriction in Drosophila, finding mortality costs when returning to rich diets after restriction, challenging current evolutionary explanations of DR.

Programmed DNA elimination of germline development genes in songbirds

The paper identifies and characterizes the germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) in zebra finches, revealing its dynamic evolution and functional role in germline-soma genome differentiation.