Jonathan the Tortoise Is 194 Years Old and Thriving. His Genes Help Explain Why.
Scientists identified 287 gene variants and unusually stable epigenetic controls in Jonathan, pointing to reduced DNA damage, inflammation and cancer risk.
- In a study published Wednesday in Science Advances, researchers identified 287 unique gene variants in Jonathan, a 194-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise, that may explain his extreme longevity.
- Jonathan, the world's oldest known living land animal, arrived on the British Overseas Territory of St. Helena in 1882 as a gift to Sir William Grey-Wilson and has lived at the governor's residence ever since.
- Analysis reveals that in 272 of Jonathan's genes tied to mitochondria, the chemical switches stayed as orderly as in a youngster, according to study co-author Stephen Clark, echoing patterns in long-lived humans.
- The Kallel Foundation aims to translate these evolutionary insights into practical, affordable treatments for everyday people while continuing to explore genetic mechanisms across long-lived species.
- Benjamin Vaisvil, co-lead author, cautioned that researchers "cannot say for certain that what we found is the reason for his longevity," noting the study involved only one exceptionally old tortoise.
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(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Joo-young = 'Jonah', the Aldabra giant tortoise of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic, known as the world's oldest land animal at 194 years old...
A 194-year-old tortoise, world’s oldest land animal, may hold clues to longer life
By Marta Serafinko Oct 7 (Reuters) - 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...
Science Writing, 7 Oct (EFE).- It was a contemporary of Charles Darwin, has experienced two world wars and great pandemics, from the Spanish flu to covid: Jonathan, the longest-lived turtle in the world, is 194 years old. An analysis of his privileged genetics has revealed the secret of his eternal youth.This giant turtle specimen was taken from the Seychelles to the island of St. Helena (an overseas British territory located 1,860 kilometers aw…
‘Jonathan’ Is the Oldest Land Animal on Earth. He Could Hold the Secrets to Defying Death
Jonathan, a 194-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise, was born before the Civil War. Scientists have now sequenced his genome to reveal what’s behind his extreme longevity, so we can live longer too.
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