194-year-old tortoise Jonathan has 287 longevity gene variants

Cambridge scientists studied the genome of Jonathan, a 194-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise, and identified 287 unique gene variants linked to DNA repair, reduced inflammation, insulin regulation and cancer suppression. His epigenome remained nearly unchanged compared to younger tortoises.

• Jonathan is the world's oldest known land animal, living on St. Helena for 144 years
• Researchers found 287 gene variants tied to longevity and cancer defense
• Jonathan's epigenome stayed stable for nearly two centuries, surprising scientists
• The study in Science Advances is the first to examine a giant tortoise epigenome