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Jonathan the Tortoise Has Survived 2 Centuries and a Fake Death. Now Scientists Are Unraveling His Anti-Aging Secrets
Gizmodo • • science
Key Points:
- Rumors of Jonathan, the nearly 194-year-old giant tortoise, dying were false; a fraudster spread fake news and solicited crypto donations by impersonating his vet.
- Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise living on Saint Helena island, is the oldest known land animal and has lived far beyond the typical 100-150 year lifespan of his species.
- Scientists recently sequenced Jonathan’s genome and epigenome for the first time, revealing that his mitochondrial genes remain epigenetically youthful compared to younger tortoises.
- The research, led by longevity nonprofit Kallel, aims to unlock secrets of extreme longevity in animals like Jonathan to potentially develop human therapies targeting the epigenome.
- Future studies will continue examining Jonathan and other long-lived species, though progress depends on philanthropic funding; Jonathan remains alive and well as of the latest reports.
