What processes cause aging?

The one thing that caught my attention right away from the processes that cause aging reading was the paragraph about how some sort of damage is only caused to certain species of animals as compared to damage caused to all animals. As humans age they often develop heart problems as can pigs and some pigeons. Whereas horses tend to die from twisted intestines. Dogs and men often develop prostate cancer something that is never found in mice or rats. Alzheimer's disease is commonly seen in monkeys and humans. I thought this point was very interesting and was never something I really thought about or took into consideration. I do agree with this paragraph and think that each species has its own way or ways of aging to ensure death.

Why We Age?

At this point in time we have no idea 'why' we age? There are many theories and ideas as to why we do but no one has come up with the correct answer and been able to prove it. I don't think there is one distinct reason for why we age; I think there are multiple. Mostly I think aging has to do with our genetic make-up and genes because if you think about it everyone has their own unique individual life span and no two people are exactly the same. As aging occurs I think various things happen that help prepare us for death, such as aging physically, mentally, emotionally, etc. I believe humans and all other species age and die for both reproductive and population advantages. If we all lived forever our genes would eventually be old, mutated, and outdated. Before the death of an individual occurs their genes can be recycled within their offspring. Also, I think death is nature's way of controlling the population of a species because it is unavoidable.

http://www.thetech.org/genetics/news.php?id=10