Ancient Aldabra tortoise Jonathan may reveal genetic keys to longer life

The 194-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise known as Jonathan, residing on the remote island of St Helena since 1882, has become the focus of a longevity study published in Science Advances. Researchers affiliated with Kallel sequenced his genome and mapped his epigenome, discovering changes in DNA-repair, mitochondrial, insulin-signalling and telomere pathways that are associated with extended lifespan. When his epigenetic profile was compared to four other Aldabra tortoises of varying ages, Jonathan displayed markedly lower methylation entropy in regions that control longevity genes, and he carries unique variants in 287 genes, including those involved in tumor suppression.

The team also identified extra copies of a gene that targets aging and cancer cells. While the findings echo patterns seen in exceptionally long-lived humans, scientists caution that a single specimen limits broader conclusions and that Jonathan’s protected island environment and carefully managed diet likely contribute as well. The research highlights potential cross-species mechanisms of aging that could inform future biomedical studies.