Alexei A. Maklakov

Transgenerational pathogen defence extends beyond behavioural avoidance

The paper investigates transgenerational pathogen defense in five Caenorhabditis species, finding varied behavioral responses and survival benefits without behavioral avoidance.

Lifespan-extending downregulation of insulin signalling reduces germline mutation load

This study shows that reducing insulin signaling in adulthood extends lifespan and reduces germline mutations in C. elegans, but only when the HRDE-1 pathway is functional.

Germline removal reprograms somatic genome maintenance towards faster, energy-efficient, high-fidelity DNA defence and repair

This study shows that removing the germline in zebrafish reprograms somatic DNA repair and stress responses, favoring high-fidelity mechanisms and altering gene expression patterns across multiple organs.

Sexual selection purges mutation load, but not overall genetic diversity in populations, decreasing vulnerability to extinction

This study shows that strong sexual selection reduces deleterious mutations and extinction risk in beetle populations without decreasing genetic diversity.

Evolutionary trade-offs between intergenerational and transgenerational fitness effects

The paper shows that beneficial intergenerational fitness effects in C. elegans can lead to detrimental transgenerational effects, demonstrating evolutionary trade-offs across generations.

Mutation accumulation underpins evolution of lifespan extension by dietary restriction

This study shows that dietary restriction extends lifespan in C. elegans by suppressing fertility, not through adaptive hypotheses, and suggests mutation accumulation drives this evolutionary effect.

Within-ejaculate sperm selection in humans acts against molecular signatures of age-related disease

The paper identifies within-ejaculate sperm selection in humans that favors sperm with molecular signatures opposing age-related disease.

Optimising age-specific insulin signalling to slow down reproductive ageing increases fitness in different environments

The paper shows that optimizing insulin signaling in adulthood improves late-life reproduction and fitness in C. elegans across different environments.

An Antagonistically Pleiotropic Gene Regulates Vertebrate Growth, Maturity and Aging

This study identifies vgll3 as an antagonistically pleiotropic gene in turquoise killifish, showing it accelerates growth and reproduction but increases late-life disease risk and mortality.

Experimentally reduced insulin/IGF-1 signalling in adulthood extends lifespan of parents and improves Darwinian fitness of their offspring

This study shows reducing insulin/IGF-1 signaling in adult C. elegans extends parental lifespan and improves offspring fitness, supporting the hyperfunction theory of aging.