194-Year-Old Tortoise Could Reveal Secrets to Human Longevity

Could a 194-year-old tortoise reveal clues about how humans can live longer? Read on for how scientists are studying this giant tortoise and what they hope to learn from their research.

A Nearly 200-Year-Old Tortoise Could Hold the Key to Human Longevity

Researchers have been monitoring the life of a 194-year-old tortoise named Jonathan. The Aldabra giant tortoise is believed to be the world's oldest land animal as he approaches his 200th birthday.

Jonathan lives on the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena. As Jonathan continues to age, scientists have taken a special interest in studying his specific DNA to understand his secret to longevity.

A new study published recently in the journal Science Advances offers potential explanations for Jonathan's extended lifespan. “The assumption has always been that their metabolic rate is very low compared to us,” said study coauthor Justin Gerlach, a fellow in biology at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Gerlach explained, “That means that the processes that are going on inside the cells are slower, so there are fewer chemical reactions and therefore less damage to the cells and to the DNA.”

Gerlach and his team of researchers identified 287 gene variants linked to protecting the tortoise from the natural cellular damage that happens during the aging process. According to Gerlach, “He does have some genes that are particularly good for DNA repair and reducing inflammation."

Diving deeper into the analysis of Jonathan's genome found the reptile can continue to produce the right genes even as he ages, a process that typically falls apart earlier for most other types of animals. Gerlach explains that “Our cells start doing the wrong things and we get cancers, for example. But Jonathan has still got the genetic controls of a much younger animal." In short, this means that tortoises are much fitter than what their age on paper would indicate, particularly when compared to humans.

Why does this research matter? Scientists hope that understanding why some species are able to live longer could provide breakthroughs about aging and longevity across the animal kingdom. These findings could potentially apply to human health.