Maintaining integrity of germline DNA: individuals age, species do not

Abstract

All life forms are under constant assault, resulting in an accumulation of damage within each individual, in both somatic and germline cells. The obvious causes are: (1) mutations from radiation, chemical reactions like peroxidation and errors in replicating genetic material; (2) injury due to environmental insults, such as chemical alteration of proteins by reactive oxygen species; (3) epigenetic errors, such as failure of appropriate maintenance methylation of cytosines of DNA; and (4) numerous other problems, including retroviral invasions, inflammation and unhealthy microbiomes. Collectively, these phenomena constitute aging and/or certain disease states. Nature has developed numerous mechanisms to counteract these problems, such as proofreading enzymes, ubiquitous antioxidants and apoptotic death of unfit cells. However, none of these is completely effective. Although individuals accumulate damage, species usually do not become increasingly damaged; however, this could be one of the mechanisms for eventual extinction or evolution to a different species, the apparent fate of essentially all species. Nevertheless, germline DNA appears to remain sufficiently pristine to maintain fairly stable phenotypes over many generations. How do species avoid accumulating damage when composed of individuals that do? One broad answer seems to be reproductive redundancy followed by elimination of defects through the death of gametes, embryos, fetuses, neonates and postpubertal individuals, with the culling pressure increasing as potential parents age. Another major force appears to be evolutionary pressure; individuals that best fit the environment out-reproduce those that fit less well. What is impressive is that older and older parents continue to have offspring that are nearly as pristine as those of younger parents, even though their germline cells have continued to age. Although the offspring of old parents are not as fit, on average, as those of young parents, differences are small and, in some species, compensated for by superior parenting with accumulated experience. To conclude, it appears that species do not age, even though they are composed of individuals whose somatic and germline cells have aged.