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[–] tin_has_ten_isotopes ago 

We would have to talk to them directly to know for sure, but I expect these researchers would agree.

I personally think that there are a few common factors that drive aging. It may have many genetic influences, but they probably act mostly through a few genetic pathways. Experiments on lower animals and humans show that mTor pathways substantially affect lifespan, for example.

Generation competition theory also gives reasons to think that there are a few switches that flip so that the elderly do not steal too much food from their descendants. The existence of such a switch would free up a lot of nutrients for the younger generations, and so it would be strongly selected for at the tribal level.