Oldest Tortoise's DNA Reveals Youthful Cellular Regulation
Researchers analyzed DNA from Jonathan, a roughly 194-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise, by taking gentle cheek samples. While he displays several molecular hallmarks of aging, some parts of his genome remain organized like those of younger tortoises. The study suggests that protecting cellular energy production and maintenance may help explain extreme longevity.
Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise, is estimated to be 194 years old and is the oldest land animal currently documented alive. He reached St. Helena in 1882 already fully grown and now lives at Plantation House, the governor’s residence. His species, native to the Seychelles, often lives beyond a century but not as long as he has.
Researchers from Cambridge and Vanderbilt used gentle cheek scrapings to sequence his genome and epigenome, comparing him with four other Aldabra tortoises aged five to older adults. They identified 287 Jonathan-specific variants linked to DNA repair, inflammation, insulin regulation, and cancer suppression; his epigenome showed some youthful organization despite aging hallmarks.
This research may inform aging biology and conservation, potentially affecting scientists, veterinarians, and keepers of long-lived animals. It could also shape public interest in healthy aging, though findings from one tortoise cannot be generalized to humans. Any practical benefits would likely require years of further study across species.