We helped track 77 species for up to 60 years to try to reveal the secrets of long life. And some don’t seem to age at all
Our research is countering some previous ideas about what factors might slow down ageing. Further study could help us create targeted treatments in humans too.
theconversation.com
Ever wondered about the secret to a long life? Perhaps understanding the lifespans of other animals with backbones (or “vertebrates”) might help us unlock this mystery.
You’ve probably heard turtles live a long (and slow) life. At 190 years, Jonathan the Seychelles giant tortoise might be the oldest land animal alive. But why do some animals live longer than others?
Research published today by myself and colleagues in the journal Science investigates the various factors that may affect longevity (lifespan) and aging in reptiles and amphibians.
We used long-term data from 77 different species of reptiles and amphibians – all cold-blooded animals. Our work is a collaboration between more than 100 scientists with up to 60 years of data on animals that were caught, marked, released, and re-caught.
These data were then compared to existing information on warm-blooded animals, and several different ideas about aging emerged.
