One might expect that within a particular species, any individuals that managed to slow down the aging process would leave more offspring. Natural selection should therefore favor extreme longevity-but this does not seem to be the case. A possible explanation is that aging is a product of the inevitable wear and tear of living, similar to how household appliances generally accumulate faults that lead to their eventual demise. However, most researchers do not find this analogy satisfactory as an explanation.

Which of the following would, if true, provide the strongest explanation for the researchers' reaction?

A:Some organisms are capable of living much longer than other organisms.

B:Some organisms reproduce very quickly despite having short lifespans.

C:There are several ways of defining "extreme longevity," and according to some definitions it occurs frequently.

D:Organisms are capable of maintenance and self-repair and can remedy much of the damage that they accumulate.

E:Some organisms generate much more wear and tear on their bodies than others.