Life expectancy genes control long life

Long life expectancy: genes are key to long life

06/01/2015

Greenland whales are powerful animals: they grow up to 18 meters long and weigh up to 100 tons. With a possible age of over 200 years, they are also the most long-lived known mammals. Researchers now discovered the probable reason for the longevity of the whales. The findings may also help in the fight against human diseases in the future.

Longest known mammal
Greenland whales are the longest-lived known mammals with a possible age of over 200 years. The secret of their longevity is probably in their genes, as scientists have now discovered. The research team of biologist Michael Keane from the University of Liverpool identified the complete genome of the animals and compared key differences with the genome of other whales and mammals. According to a news agency dpa, they came to the conclusion that bowhead whales have peculiarities in the genes associated with cell division, genome repair, cancer and aging processes.

Hints for research on aging processes
Presumably, these features increase the longevity of the animals and increase their resistance to cancer. The in the journal „Cell Reports“ In this respect, published study could provide information for research on aging processes in general. „Our understanding of the lifespan of different species is still low. The results of our research give us genetic candidates for future studies“, explained biologist João Pedro de Magalhães from the University of Liverpool. The different species in his view have different „tricks“ designed for a longer life. „By discovering the tricks of the Greenland whale, we may be able to transfer it to humans to combat age-related diseases“, so the scientist.

Gene is associated with thermoregulation
The researchers also point out that their sequencing is the first in a large whale. The findings could also provide information on physiological adjustments in terms of body size. Wal-Cells, for example, have a much lower metabolism rate than the cells of smaller mammals. The biologists also found genetic explanations for this difference. Thus, a gene associated with thermoregulation had a peculiarity in the Greenland whale. According to the data, thermoregulation is responsible for the more or less independent body temperature of an animal from the outside world.

Genes also play an important role in life expectancy in humans
The researchers now want to breed mice that are equipped with different genes of the Greenland whale. They want to find out how important certain genes are for longevity and resistance to disease. Thereafter, the genome of other long-lived species must be deciphered and compared with that of the Greenland whale. The scientists have made their findings available on the website www.bowhead-whale.org to facilitate this comparison. Not only in whales, but also in humans, genes play an important role in the potential life expectancy. Claudio Franceschi from the University of Bologna, for example, recently spoke to the „world“ explains that healthy aging is inherited to a significant degree. Genes and lifestyle increase life expectancy: Experts came to this conclusion recently, after more than 700 researchers have made the most comprehensive analysis of the annual deaths for 188 countries and 240 causes of death. (Ad)