Final answer:
The claim that higher body temperature increases lifespan in fruit flies and vertebrates is false. Research indicates that factors like energy allocation and reproductive costs are significant for the longevity of organisms like fruit flies. Cold-resistant fruit flies tend to conserve energy to survive rather than reproducing early in life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that raising and maintaining a higher body temperature can increase the lifespan in fruit flies and some vertebrates is False. Instead, research in the field of cryobiology has found that various factors, such as energy allocation for growth, maintenance, and reproduction, affect the lifespan of organisms like fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster). For instance, studies have indicated that reproduction carries a cost, reducing the longevity of male fruit flies. Males that do not mate have been shown to live longer, having more opportunities to find mates in the future.
Fruit flies living in cold conditions adopt survival strategies that reduce reproductive activities and instead focus on conserving energy, which may affect their overall lifespan. For example, fruit flies that are resistant to cold temperatures tend to have decreased fecundity early in life because they allocate more energy to surviving the cold rather than to early reproduction. This trait might be favored in natural selection since it allows them to survive better under cold conditions.
Overall, energy budgets, reproductive costs, and sexual selection are significant factors in the study of Drosophila melanogaster. Research has also explored how oxidative stress and caloric intake can affect aging and lifespan in various organisms, including yeast, worms, and fruit flies.