Research

We develop mathematical models to understand the evolution of life history and social behaviour. We aim to understand how organisms mature, reproduce and age, how social interactions influence those patterns, and how individuals can react plastically to their social environment. We are interested in the evolution of menopause and sex differences, and why some organisms seem to escape ageing.
Transfers give rise to human life history characteristics

Humans have a life history quite distinct from that of our close relatives: children depend on adults for nearly two decades, we live long past our reproductive years, and we produce far more energy over our lifetimes than our closest relatives do. What drove the evolution of these distinctive traits?

Our new research explores how the ability to share resources across generations affects how natural selection has shaped life history evolution. Using a mathematical model, we compare two evolutionary scenarios: one in which individuals must be energetically self-sufficient at every age, and one in which resources can flow between generations (parents feeding their children, grandparents supporting families).

The results show that when resource sharing is possible, selection favours:

  • A prolonged childhood with heavy investment in growth and learning
  • Higher lifetime energy production through accumulated body and brain development
  • Dramatically extended lifespans
  • A post-reproductive phase where older individuals transfer resources to younger ones
Why do organisms age and die? The physiological cost of keeping our germline intact

Every living organism faces a fundamental dilemma: resources spent protecting genetic information from errors cannot be spent on growing, reproducing, or staying alive. This paper explores how this trade-off shapes an organism's life history.

Using mathematical modelling, we show that when organisms face higher rates of mutation accumulation (e.g. environmental factors, like radiation or toxins), they invest more in genetic repair. They also shift their entire life strategy toward "living faster": reproducing earlier, having more offspring, but living shorter lives.

Our key findings:

  • Organisms actively balance germline maintenance with other life-history functions.
  • Higher mutation rate favours faster life histories.
  • Organisms are expected to mature earlier and smaller when mutation rates are high.