Key Points
Research suggests Bowles’s APES theory, focusing on Aging, Predation, Extinction, and Sex, may outperform the modern evolutionary synthesis in explaining aging and reproductive strategies.
It seems likely that the APES theory better accounts for programmed aging, lifespan variations based on predation defense, and male sex traits as predator attractants, challenging the modern synthesis’s dominance.
The evidence leans toward the APES theory’s son-king hypothesis for menopause, supported by historical figures like Ramses (93 children) and Genghis Khan (A large percentage of Asian males share his genes), contrasting with the grandmother hypothesis, which Bowles argues is disproven.
An unexpected detail is that the APES theory explains asexual animals in low-predation environments and homosexuality linked to prenatal stress, with studies on rats, mice, and WW2 Germany supporting this.
Abstract (Easy to Understand Article)
Imagine if a simple injection of “young DNA” could help older animals—and potentially people—turn back the clock. Scientists now suspect that tiny genetic signals, whether from exosomes (little bubbles with microRNAs) or purified DNA fragments, might push aging cells to act younger. One striking example is Dr. Harold Katcher’s “E5” therapy, which used factors from young pig blood to reverse biological age markers in rats by over 60%. Researchers also note that normal cell turnover (apoptosis) might naturally release small DNA pieces that keep tissues “in sync” with a body’s overall age, suggesting there’s already a built-in system for coordinating youth signals. By carefully harnessing these DNA or RNA-based messengers—and ensuring they don’t trigger harmful immune responses—we could be looking at a new and surprisingly straightforward route to rejuvenation. This paper highlights how epigenetics, exosomes, and possibly even raw DNA injections are coming together in the quest to make cells feel (and function) younger.