VGLL3 as an Example of a Gene Exhibiting Antagonist Pleiotropy (opens in new tab)

The concept of antagonistic pleiotropy looms large over present thought on the evolution of aging: that the proteins produced from a given gene can have multiple functions that are beneficial in youth but harmful in later life. Evolution selects for such a gene because the advantage of early life reproductive success near always wins out over the disadvantage of a shorter overall reproductive life span. Thus near all species undergo degenerative aging. More subtly the concept can also apply t...