Plate Nº 50 · recorded October 13, 2026
Biology & EvolutionReported finding
194-Year-Old Tortoise Reveals Stable Gene Switches That May Resist Aging
Jonathan, a 194-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise, carries 287 gene variants and unusually stable gene switches that may explain his extreme longevity, scientists report.
By Priya Raman4 min read718 words
In brief
- Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise, is estimated to be 194 years old, hatched around 1832.
- Researchers identified 287 gene variants linked to DNA repair, inflammation control, insulin regulation and cancer suppression.
- The study, published in Science Advances (2026), is the first to map a giant tortoise's epigenome.
- Jonathan's gene switches for DNA repair and metabolism resemble those of much younger tortoises of the same species.
- He has lived 144 years on St. Helena after arriving from the Seychelles as a gift to the governor.
At an estimated 194 years old, the giant tortoise Jonathan has yielded 287 unique gene variants that appear to blunt the usual effects of aging, according to a study published in the journal Science Advances. The findings come from the first-ever investigation of a giant tortoise's epigenome, and they suggest that extreme longevity may depend not only on good genes but on keeping those genes' control systems in good repair.
Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea), is thought to have hatched in 1832, making him a contemporary of Charles Darwin and Queen Victoria. He is the oldest living giant tortoise and the oldest land animal alive today. He has spent 144 of his years on the island of St. Helena, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic, on the grounds of Plantation House, the governor's residence. He arrived from the Seychelles fully grown, as a gift.
What did the researchers actually find?
The study team identified 287 gene variants in Jonathan that influence processes central to how bodies break down with age. These variants touch on:
- repairing damaged DNA,
- reducing inflammation,
- regulating insulin (the hormone that controls blood sugar),
- suppressing cancer.
The deeper discovery concerned the epigenome — the chemical "on/off" switches attached to genes that determine which of them are active. In most animals, these switches drift and rearrange over time, and that drift is a key reason aging bodies begin to malfunction.
When the researchers compared Jonathan's epigenome with those of younger giant tortoises of the same species, the switches controlling his DNA repair and metabolism genes looked remarkably similar to those of his younger relatives. Nearly two centuries of life had left them largely intact.
"We found that the gene regulators involved in energy production and DNA repair have remained incredibly stable in Jonathan over almost two centuries," said Dr. Justin Gerlach of Peterhouse at the University of Cambridge, who took part in the study.
Gerlach has studied the ecology and conservation of giant tortoises for several decades, but this is the first time he has examined their exceptionally long lives. "There are few creatures that could tell us more about aging than the giant tortoises of the Galapagos and Seychelles islands," he said. "Working with a really old giant tortoise is such a privilege: you get a sense of the tortoise being your collaborator, not your study subject."
Who carried out the work?
The study, led by researchers at the U.S. longevity research nonprofit Karel, marks the first time scientists have mapped the epigenome of a giant tortoise. The organization argues that decoding a multicentury life offers an unusual window into extreme longevity — a natural experiment no laboratory can replicate.
The paper appears as Benjamin Vaisvil et al, "Epigenetic insights into extreme longevity in the world's oldest terrestrial animal, Jonathan," in Science Advances (2026), DOI: 10.1123/sciadv.adw8887.
Could this lead to human treatments?
The researchers themselves frame the work as a starting point for medicine. "Nature has already solved the puzzle of aging in remarkable ways, and Jonathan's genome provides a blueprint for cellular resilience," said Stephen Clark, M.D., Ph.D., founder of Kael and senior author of the study.
Clark added: "Our goal is to take these evolutionary insights and immediately translate them into practical, affordable treatments for everyday people. Aging is the greatest risk factor for nearly every chronic disease we face, and through the generosity of philanthropic partners, we can democratize access to longevity medicine."
That ambition warrants caution. The study examines a single animal, and a single tortoise cannot prove that stable gene switches caused his long life rather than simply accompanied it. The comparison with younger tortoises strengthens the signal, but translating epigenetic findings from reptiles into human therapies remains an unproven path, and any clinical applications would lie years away.
Why do giant tortoises matter beyond this study?
The giant tortoises of the Galapagos and Seychelles islands are the last survivors of animals that once dominated the ecology of many of the world's islands. Their lineage has held onto traits — slow metabolism, robust DNA maintenance, resistance to cancer — that mammals largely lack.
For now, Jonathan continues his life on St. Helena, unaware that his cells have become a reference point for the biology of time.
via Phys.org Biology (Source)
More from Priya Raman
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Senior reporter covering people, launches and day-to-day practice in general science news at SciBeat.
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