194-year-old tortoise reveals stable gene switches that may help resist aging: Study
Researchers found 287 unique gene variants and unusually stable gene switches in pathways tied to DNA repair, mitochondrial function and metabolism.
- On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, researchers published the first genome sequence of Jonathan, the 194-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise, in the journal Science Advances, revealing genetic mechanisms driving his extreme longevity.
- Hatched in about 1832, Jonathan has spent 144 years on St. Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean after being purchased as a gift, establishing him as the world's oldest known land animal.
- Researchers found that chemical tags near 272 of Jonathan's genes remained tidy, mirroring those of much younger tortoises and suggesting resilience against age-related decline through preserved DNA repair and mitochondrial regulators.
- Stephen Clark, lead author of the study, stated the team aims to translate evolutionary insights into practical treatments for chronic disease, with research supported by the Stephen Voland Research Fund offering a cellular resilience blueprint.
- Scientists caution that the study, which analyzed only five tortoises, remains a hypothesis rather than proven cause of long life, with further testing needed to determine if these genetic patterns truly protect against aging.
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210 Articles
Jonathan's turtle DNA can tell us how to slow down people's aging.
An extremely old giant tortoise named Jonathan may hold the secret to a long, healthy life
An international collaboration led by a neurologist and experts in advanced genomics at Vanderbilt Health has coaxed one of the secrets of extreme longevity from a 194-year-old giant tortoise named Jonathan.
Geneticists are trying to penetrate the secrets of longevity of the oldest living terrestrial animal: a giant turtle on the island of St. Helena, named Jonathan, 194 years old. Almost 100 years older than most of its congeners.
The giant tortoises in the Seychelles were once threatened with extinction. But according to a new count, there are now more on the islands than there are people walking around.
Scientists tried to figure out the secret to the longevity of Jonathan, a nearly 200-year-old giant tortoise, in hopes of developing a medicine for humans.
On a remote island in the Indian Ocean, there are more giant turtles than people living in the entire Seychelles. A new investigation comes to around 180,000 animals - and shows how successful decades of conservation can be. But despite this success story, the armored giants face new dangers.
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