Could the bowhead whale genome help humans live longer than Methuselah?

Humans live exceptionally long lives versus most animals, with few exceptions (elephants and tortoises come to mind). We’ve got nothing on the bowhead whale, however, which can live to be 200 years old. Now, a new study published in Cell Reports reveals the complete bowhead whale genome, and scientists are hopeful it could reveal clues that could apply to human longevity as well.

“We discovered changes in bowhead genes related to cell cycle, DNA repair, cancer and aging that suggest alterations that may be biologically-relevant,” senior author João Pedro de Magalhães of the University of Liverpool told Discovery News.

This is the first time a whale of this size’s genes have been fully sequenced (bowheads can grow to 60 feet in length and weigh 60 tons). It’s unprecedented for animals this size to live this long. One male specimen may be 250 years old, making him nearly as old as the United States and the oldest mammal on Earth. Bowheads show remarkable few signs of the sorts of age-related diseases that strike humans in old age.

De Magalhães believes that bowhead whales are particular efficient with regards to DNA and cell replication management. “So my own view,” he added, “is that this points toward improved DNA repair and cell cycle regulation mechanisms to prevent DNA damage accumulation during the life course, which in turn promote longevity and resistance to age-related diseases.”

De Magalhães speculates that other large whales, including blue whales, live a long time as well. He believes their size has something to do with it – being big means having few (if any, other than humans) natural predators, which allows for the luxury of evolving to grow slower and with delayed reproduction. Smaller animals, on the other hand, must mature quickly and reproduce often if they hope to pass on their genes before becoming prey. The whales’ slower maturation process may make it less likely for DNA errors to pile up, which can lead to age-related diseases.

In the future, scientists hope to identify specific genes in the sequence that might explain the whales’ longevity and apply those findings to humans. One gene, ERCC1, has already been identified as playing a role in DNA repair.

Living a quarter century may sound appealing, but keep in mind that we owe our enjoyment of life to modern medicine. Without it, bowhead whales are susceptible to microbes and parasites, which can make life very uncomfortable.

“So even though bowheads can live longer than humans and appear to be protected from age-related diseases, I wouldn’t assume they have a better quality of life,” de Magalhães said.

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