Genes That Help You Reproduce Are Killing You Later—This Is Why We Age

George Williams proposed this in 1957: the same genes that boost early-life fitness get selected even if they cause damage later. We have spent decades finding the molecular evidence.

FOXO3 variants that extend lifespan reduce IGF-1 signaling—sacrificing early growth for longevity. p53 protects against cancer but accelerates aging. The trade-off is real, measurable, and everywhere in our genome.