Longevity, Biological

Lifespan and longevity are related concepts in that both are measures of biological time. The qualifier that separates the two is that longevity requires a long lifespan. Both concepts are intertwined and from a biological perspective they define windows of time within which key milestones for Darwinian success must be met. Longevity is an essential part of how organisms adapt to the risks that endanger life or reproduction. Aging and longevity are quite different concepts that follow parallel paths. As longevity increases, so does the irreparable cellular damage accumulation arising from biochemical side reactions. The critical difference is that longevity has a genetic basis and aging does not.