AGING: What can killer whales teach us about the menopause?

Darwinian evolutionary theory says that any characteristic reducing an animal’s chance of passing on its genes to the next generation will be edged out – the process of natural selection.

That has led some to argue that menopause in humans is a result of longer life, better health and better medical care. But, as well as painting a rather depressing image that post-menopausal women are simply alive beyond their evolutionarily prescribed time, that theory has been largely debunked – thanks, in part, to these orcas.

Obviously, medical care is not increasing their lifespan.

“So studying them in the wild could help us reveal some of the mystery of why menopause evolved,” Croft says.

It’s conceivable that there might have once been a genetic advantage in stopping the production of children before they would be in competition for scarce resources with your grandchildren.

But those days are over, so — faster, please.