Citation
Evolution of ageing
TL;DR
Aging is an allocation strategy, not a defect
Kirkwood's disposable soma theory reframes aging from biological defect to strategic resource allocation. The insight that organisms invest just enough in maintenance to reach reproduction, then reallocate away from maintenance, explains why products and business units age and die - companies reallocate R&D to new products, letting old ones deteriorate. This provides biological justification for planned obsolescence and product lifecycle management.
Key Findings from Kirkwood (1977)
- Aging is an allocation strategy, not a defect
- Natural selection optimizes for reproduction, not longevity
- The body (soma) is 'disposable' - maintained only until reproduction
- Post-reproductive maintenance investment naturally declines