194-year-old tortoise reveals stable gene switches that may help resist aging: Study
Scientists identified 287 gene variants and unusually stable epigenetic patterns that may help explain how Jonathan has remained healthy into extreme old age.
- 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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123 Articles
The Secret To Living 194 Years Is Being A Turtle
Geriatric Jonathan has made the news again, this time for having his genome sequenced. The Aldabra giant tortoise, who is estimated to be 194 years old, is the oldest known land animal on the planet. (The ocean, which teems with glass sponges thousands of years old and Greenland sharks that have been swimming for centuries, takes longevity to different extremes.) As such, it is understandable why scientists would want to sequence Jonathan's geno…
A 194-year-old tortoise, world's oldest land animal, may hold clues to longer life
The world's oldest-known terrestrial animal, an Aldabra giant tortoise named Jonathan and estimated to be about 194 years old, may owe his extraordinary longevity to a combination of genetic traits and an ability to keep key cellular systems functioning in a more youthful way, according to scientists.
The genome of this turtle reveals mechanisms that could help explain how it has managed to age so slowly
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