Giant tortoises have exceptionally long lifespans and often live well past 100 years old. Now, a new study unveils genetic clues to the animals’ longevity, including gene changes that may protect giant tortoises from cancer, bolster the immune system and help regulate metabolism. The findings add to how these processes contribute to aging.
“We found interesting [genetic] variants potentially affecting six [aging] hallmarks in giant tortoises, opening new lines for aging research,” said Carlos López-Otín, a molecular biologist at Universidad de Oviedo in Spain who led the new research, in a statement.
López-Otín and his team scrutinized the genome of a particularly famous Pinta tortoise known as “Lonesome George.” Native to the Galapagos Islands, Pinta tortoises were exploited by whalers and fur traders in the 1800s. The population continued to drop until Lonesome George, who died in 2012, was the sole survivor. According to the Galapagos Conservancy, the turtle was ...
