Epigenetic insights into extreme longevity in the world's oldest terrestrial animal, Jonathan.

Jonathan, a 194-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise, exhibits unique gene variants and low methylation entropy in key pathways linked to extreme longevity.

• Why it matters: Understanding the molecular basis of such exceptional lifespan can reveal mechanisms of aging and potential targets for promoting healthy aging in other species, including humans.
• What they did: Researchers sequenced Jonathan’s genome and methylome, comparing them to other tortoises, and identified distinct gene variants and methylation patterns associated with longevity.
• The result: Findings suggest that maintaining low methylation entropy in gene promoters related to mitochondrial function and RNA metabolism supports long life, offering insights into aging processes.