A 194-year-old tortoise may hold clues to help humans age better
Nearly two centuries of life have turned his story into an unexpected opportunity for science.
Jonathan was born into a world that no longer exists and has outlived entire generations. Today, at around 194 years old, this giant tortoise could help scientists better understand one of life’s greatest mysteries:
Jonathan lives on Saint Helena, a remote British island in the South Atlantic, where he arrived as an adult . To study his body, researchers analyzed saliva samples and found that some of his genes had remained remarkably stable. These include genes linked to blood sugar regulation, inflammation, and protection against cancer, processes that are also important for human health.
Another finding caught the team’s attention: some genes linked to mitochondria, the cellular structures responsible for producing energy, showed similarities between Jonathan and a tortoise just five years old. Scientists are investigating whether this characteristic could contribute to his longevity, although they cannot yet say it explains his extraordinary lifespan .
The research was published in Science Advances and does not seek a formula to stop aging. Instead, it aims to understand what allows certain organisms to maintain their biological functions for longer and how these findings could help us take better care of our health as we grow older.
The research has its limitations. Authorities on Saint Helena did not allow blood samples to be collected due to concerns about possible infections. The team hopes to continue collecting samples for as long as Jonathan remains alive , because every opportunity could help shed more light on what scientists still do not know about his remarkable biology.
