Jonathan, a 194-year-old tortoise, could make humans live longer, says the recent study. Belonging to a species of Aldabra giant tortoise, native to the Islands of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, he has dwelled most of his life at St. Helena, a British overseas territory.
How Could Jonathan Help Humans?
A study on Jonathan’s DNA and genetic material revealed that his cells’ reactions were very slow as compared to a human’s; this could potentially lead to less damage to cells and DNA.
He was estimated to have a good gene for the DNA repair and minimising the inflammation. Basically, both these factors influence a slower aging process. Researchers still don’t know if this phenomenon is because he is remarkable or because of the specific species of giant tortoises.
Does Jonathan Belong to the Victorian Era?
Researchers determined his age through a picture from 1882, when Jonathan arrived at St. Helena already at adult size, leading them to estimate him to be at least 50 years old at that time. Although his exact age is unknown, researchers believe he could be even older.
Core Insights:
The study also found that Jonathan’s mitochondria were in an ideal shape in comparison with human supercentenarians (exceeding 110 years old). This substantiates that the mitochondrial health is important for a long life.
Since the genetic analysis was done from Jonathan’s oral swab, further DNA sequencing still has to be performed on other younger members of his species.
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If Jonathan could speak, what historical events would he tell us about?
MBH/AS