Why women live longer than men

Scientists from Australian Monash University and UK Lancaster University claim to have found the answer to the question of why women live five to six years longer than men by experimenting with fruit flies.

Mitochondria are cellular organelles in almost all living beings. They convert food into energy that moves the body. Mitochondria are transferred only through mothers, never through fathers.

One of the researchers Damien Dowling from the Monash University said the results were pointing out to numerous mitochondrial DNA mutations affecting how long male flies live and how quickly they get old.

- On the other hand,it is interesting that the same mutations have no effect on female flies aging - Dowling added.

Tom Kirkwood, a Professor from the New Castle University pointed out that the results show something important about mitochondria and the differences between male and female flies.

- Mitochondria is certainly a very important factor affecting the aging of many species, but in any case I do not think these results fully reveal why women live longer than men - he said.

- There are many other factors that must be considered,such as lifestyle, social and other factors, and other factors and out of all this, the most important fact is that men and women have different hormones.