Science Friday Can Animal Super-Agers Teach Us Their Secrets?
Nov 19, 2025
Dr. Vera Gorbunova, a leading biologist from the University of Rochester, and Dr. Juan Manuel Vazquez, an expert on aging at Penn State, delve into the secrets of animal super-agers. They explore how certain bats and bowhead whales defy aging norms, boasting exceptional longevity and low cancer rates. Discover their unique DNA maintenance strategies and the hopeful implications for human health. The duo shares insights on leveraging animal defenses to develop treatments that may improve human lifespan and reduce age-related illnesses.
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Bats Live Long, Fast, And Healthy
- Many bat species live far longer than expected for their size and remain healthy while sustaining high metabolic rates.
- Juan Manuel Vazquez compares their longevity to an Olympic athlete doing daily triathlons for centuries.
Aging Breaks Genome Packaging
- Aging involves many molecular damages including mutations, protein and lipid damage, and loss of chromatin organization.
- Vera Gorbunova explains that chromatin changes can activate parasitic genomic elements as organisms age.
Bowhead Whales Live Centuries Cancer-Free
- Bowhead whales are the only mammals known to outlive humans, living 200 years or more without documented cancer cases.
- Vera Gorbunova highlights their huge body size yet surprisingly low cancer incidence as biologically remarkable.