I am Iker Bargas, a PhD student in Biomedical Sciences with a broad interest in biological evolution. My doctoral research aims to deepen our understanding of the evolution of aging using dogs as a model species. In general, larger animals tend to have greater longevity than smaller ones. However, evidence suggests that this body size-longevity relationship is reversed at the intraspecific level. For instance, during my master’s studies within the same research group, we found evidence indicating that higher reproductive investment is associated with a shorter lifespan in dogs, but this negative relationship becomes stronger as breed body size increases. Therefore, at the intraspecific level, a larger body size may be associated with other factors that influence longevity.
My PhD project involves collecting small blood samples from as many dogs as possible to measure biomarkers commonly associated with aging. I aim to examine whether these biomarkers are related to phenotypic traits and life history data from the same individuals, such as weight, age, reproductive history, sterilization status, and history of specific diseases.
Beyond my current project, I have also worked on topics related to animal behavior and domestication.