A Model of Ontogenetic Growth in Animals Suggests That Lifespan Is a Result of Growth

The problem that this study is concerned with is the ontogenetic growth of humans and animals. The aim of this research is to analyze a model of the ontogenetic growth of animals. The target of the analyses is to show a link between growth and longevity. This model has implications for modelling the growth of humans as well. In this study, pigs were considered model animals for humans. Humans and pigs have a number of comparable physiological features as well as a few analogous aspects of growth. The resemblance of the biological functions leads us to think that by modelling the growth of pigs, one can gain a better look into the growth of humans. In this research, we model growth, which is operationalized as weight gain; weight loss was not considered. In this study, a discussion of the translation of the results to the growth and longevity of humans was provided. The lifespan or longevity of animals was not modelled explicitly; predictions were made in accordance with the results of the growth model. The main result of the model is that growth promotes, if not causes, longevity.