Jonathan, a 194-year-old Aldabra tortoise, may owe his longevity to stable gene switches
Scientists studying Jonathan, estimated to be about 194 years old and the world's oldest known living land animal, say his longevity may come from genetic traits and cellular systems that stay youthful. According to the study in Science Advances, he lives on the South Atlantic island of St Helena, where he has been since 1882. The findings may help explain resistance to aging, a question that matters across species, including humans.
Bottom line — The study covers only one exceptionally old tortoise, so its authors say they cannot yet confirm these traits are the reason for his age.
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Researchers identified 287 gene variants unique to Jonathan, according to Phys.org, reporting on the Science Advances paper, linked to DNA repair, inflammation, insulin regulation and cancer suppression.
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Benjamin Vaisvil, co-lead author affiliated with Kallel, told CNA that Jonathan has more documentary evidence supporting his age than other Aldabra tortoises claimed to be as old.
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CNA reported that Jonathan's methylation entropy in certain gene-switch regions was lower than in every studied tortoise except a 5-year-old juvenile, using an analogy of a cookbook and handwritten notes.
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Justin Gerlach of the University of Cambridge, cited by Phys.org, said the gene regulators for energy production and DNA repair have stayed stable in Jonathan over almost two centuries.
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Stephen Clark, founder of Kallel, said the team aims to translate these evolutionary insights into affordable treatments, framing aging as the greatest risk factor for chronic disease, according to Phys.org.
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Phys.org reported that Jonathan arrived on St Helena from the Seychelles as a gift to the governor, while CNA said he was brought in 1882, likely from the Aldabra Atoll or Granitic Seychelles, leaving his exact origin uncertain.
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CNA quoted Joe Hollins, his longtime veterinarian, describing him as a gentle giant who is now mostly blind from cataracts but retains a voracious appetite.
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CNA noted that record-keeping before the 20th century was problematic and that determining the age of adult giant tortoises is harder than for young ones, which complicates the age claim.