Study of 194‑year‑old tortoise Jonathan offers clues to extreme longevity

A research team published a study in Science Advances focusing on Jonathan, a 194‑year‑old Aldabra giant tortoise living on Saint Helena. The scientists examined his genetic material and compared epigenetic markers with those of four younger Aldabra tortoises, noting unusually ordered gene promoters in Jonathan. They reported distinct genetic modifications that appear to protect DNA, preserve telomere integrity, and fine‑tune metabolic pathways such as insulin signalling and mitochondrial function. The authors cautioned that further work is needed before any implications for human ageing can be drawn.