194-Year-Old Tortoise Jonathan Has 287 Longevity Gene Variants

Researchers at longevity nonprofit Kallel analyzed the DNA and epigenome of Jonathan, a 194-year-old giant tortoise living on St. Helena. They identified 287 unique gene variants tied to DNA repair, reduced inflammation and cancer suppression, while gene regulation remained similar to that of much younger tortoises.

• Jonathan hatched in 1832 and has lived on St. Helena for 144 years
• 287 unique gene variants linked to reduced aging effects were found
• His epigenome regulating DNA repair resembles that of young tortoises
• The study was published October 7, 2026, in Science Advances