Giant tortoise genomes provide insights into longevity and age-related disease

Giant tortoises, among the longest-lived vertebrates, harbor unique genetic adaptations linked to longevity and resistance to age-related diseases. A global genomic analysis of Lonesome George—the last surviving member of Chelonoidis abingdonii—and the Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) revealed lineage-specific variants in DNA repair, inflammatory response, and cancer-related genes. These findings suggest evolutionary strategies that enhance lifespan, offering new insights into the genomic determinants of aging. The study also provides critical genetic resources to support conservation efforts for these threatened species.

Quesada, V., Freitas-Rodríguez, S., Miller, J., Pérez-Silva, J. G., Jiang, Z.-F., Tapia, W., Santiago-Fernández, O., Campos-Iglesias, D., Kuderna, L. F. K., Quinzin, M., Álvarez, M. G., Carrero, D., Beheregaray, L. B., Gibbs, J. P., Chiari, Y., Glaberman, S., Ciofi, C., Araujo-Voces, M., Mayoral, P., et al. (2018). Giant tortoise genomes provide insights into longevity and age-related disease. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 3(1), 87–95. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-018-0733-x