page_title: Red Queen hypothesis
section_title: Evolution of aging
hierarchical_section_title: Red Queen hypothesis / Examples / Evolution of aging
caption_attribution_description: Español: Predator-prey relationship between rabbits and foxes following the principle of the Red Queen hypothesis. The rabbit evolves increasing its speed to escape the attack of the fox, and the fox evolves increasing its speed to reach the rabbit. This evolution is constant, in case one of the two stops evolving, its extinction will occur.
context_page_description: The Red Queen hypothesis is an evolutionary hypothesis which proposes that species must constantly adapt, evolve, and proliferate in order to survive while pitted against ever-evolving opposing species. The hypothesis was intended to explain the constant extinction probability as observed in the paleontological record caused by co-evolution between competing species; however, it has also been suggested that the Red Queen hypothesis explains the advantage of sexual reproduction at the level of individuals, and the positive correlation between speciation and extinction rates in most higher taxa.
context_section_description: The Red Queen hypothesis has been also invoked by some authors to explain evolution of aging. The main idea is that aging is favored by natural selection since it allows faster adaptation to changing conditions, especially in order to keep pace with the evolution of pathogens, predators and prey.
caption: Predator-prey relationship between rabbits and foxes following the principle of the Red Queen hypothesis. The rabbit evolves increasing its speed to escape the attack of the fox, and the fox evolves increasing its speed to reach the rabbit. This evolution is constant, in case one of the two stops evolving, its extinction will occur.
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