According to Valter Longo’s latest research, which was published in September 27 edition of Journal of Cell Biology, aging is a programmed process. For Longo’s part, aging is supposed to ensure premature death of majority of a population.

The dead will then consequently provide nutrients for sake of a few individuals who have acquired genetic mutations. (Think of yeast rather than big complex mammals.) These mutants are more adapted to their environment than other ‘normal’ organisms. Therefore these ‘sacrificial’ deaths increase chances of reproduction of mutants as latter will have more nutrients to feed on.

Now Charles Darwin may not be very happy with Longo’s theory. Darwin’s natural selection happens at individual level. The better suited to its environment an organism is, more probable that it will reproduce. This ensures that species changes or evolves over time as such type of reproduction brings genetic changes to offsprings. This makes offsprings more adapted to their ever-changing environment.

It is of no surprise that tourists get bitten more than we, locals do. And reaction which occurs on tourists’ skin is quiet unusual to me. A large red swelling develops. It is about twice size that one which would have formed on my skin if I was to get bitten. Apparently bite that a tourist receives is also more irritant. In my opinion, this is because foreigners are not as used to get mosquito bites than Mauritians do. But one thing is for sire though: some people do get bitten more than others.