The usual lifespan for the species is up to 90–100 years, and Jonathan has exceeded that threshold by nearly double. Researchers from the Kallel Foundation and the University of Cambridge compared his genetic material with samples from younger relatives. They discovered 287 unique gene variants linked to DNA repair, telomere protection and the functioning of mitochondria — the cell's "power plants."
Particularly noteworthy is that in some mitochondrial genes, DNA methylation in Jonathan turned out to be as "young" as in a five-year-old tortoise. Apparently, this helps his cells cope more effectively with the damage that usually accumulates with age. Blood sampling was prohibited because of the risk to the health of the island's famous resident, so the scientists limited themselves to a cheek swab and saliva.
The results have been published in the journal Science Advances. They do not provide a ready-made recipe for humans, but they show how nature solves the problem of long life through fine-tuning of the genome and epigenome. Studies like this help reveal the common mechanisms of aging across different species and understand why some organisms remain resilient for decades and centuries.
Jonathan's life is a reminder of the fragility and strength of natural systems: even on a tiny island, under human protection, the ancient tortoise continues on its way. Its genetic peculiarities are not merely a curious fact, but one more argument in favor of treating rare species and their habitats with care.
The study of such long-lived creatures opens a window into how ecosystems and individual species cope with time, and underscores our responsibility to preserve the conditions in which such astonishing longevity is possible.
