Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 1 hr ago
Jonathan the tortoise’s gene switches may offer clues to long life
Jonathan is an Aldabra giant tortoise thought to be about 194 years old, far older than the species’ estimated upper limit of about 94 years.
He has lived for much of his life on the South Atlantic island of St. Helena.
Researchers studied DNA from a mouth swab because the island government did not allow them to take blood.
They found that chemical tags near many of his genes had become disordered with age, but tags near a group of genes involved in cell energy stayed as orderly as those in a five-year-old tortoise.
The team also identified unusual gene variants that may relate to DNA repair, chromosome protection and control of tumors, but their effects have not been confirmed.
The findings could help scientists study how some animals live for an unusually long time.
Because the study examined one exceptionally old tortoise, it cannot show that these gene features caused Jonathan’s longevity.
Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise thought to be about 194 years old, has gene switches linked to cell energy that remained unusually orderly.
The switches resembled those of a 5-year-old tortoise, according to researchers.
The team says this stability may help explain Jonathan’s long life, but one animal cannot show cause and effect.
Researchers also identified genetic variants unique to Jonathan that may affect processes linked to longevity.
- Who
- Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise thought to be about 194 years old.
- What
- Researchers studied his genes and found unusually orderly switches near genes, including genes involved in cell energy.
- When
- The articles were published on October 11 and 12, 2026. The research date is not stated.
- Where
- Jonathan lives on St. Helena; the research was led by Kallel, a longevity nonprofit in Nashville.
- Why
- Researchers are investigating possible clues to Jonathan’s exceptional longevity.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Jonathan is thought to have hatched.
Jonathan arrived on St. Helena as a gift to Sir William Grey-Wilson.
Researchers collected a mouth swab from Jonathan and analyzed his genes.
- Estimated age
- About 194 years
- Species
- Aldabra giant tortoise
- Hatched
- Around 1832
- Arrival on St. Helena
- 1882
- Cell-energy gene switches
- As orderly as those of a 5-year-old tortoise
What people are saying
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
Sources
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