Jonathan Tortoise DNA Reveals Mitochondrial Longevity Clues — SkimNews
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- Jonathan, a 194-year-old giant tortoise living at Plantation House on Saint Helena, had his DNA analyzed, revealing genetic variants across most known ageing pathways — including DNA repair, metabolism regulation, and cancer defence.
- The most striking finding: methylation patterns on Jonathan's genes linked to mitochondrial function matched those of much younger tortoises, suggesting his mitochondria are 'especially stable,' according to researcher Stephen Clark of the Kallel Foundation.
- The study, published in Science Advances and led by Benjamin Vaisvil, compared Jonathan's epigenetics to those of other giant tortoises; Clark said the team must now validate whether the mitochondrial pattern actually drives longevity, asking: 'How do we test this idea?'
- Joe Hollis, the former senior veterinary officer of Saint Helena, took over Jonathan's care in 2009 when the tortoise was blind, had lost his sense of smell, and had a soft, crumbly beak — six months to a year of hand-feeding restored his weight and a hard, serrated beak.
- In April, a fake X account impersonating Hollis claimed Jonathan had died, prompting Governor Nigel Phillips to interrupt his bedtime routine and confirm the tortoise was 'very much alive' under a tree.
- A few months ago, Jonathan was observed mating with Emma, a fellow tortoise sharing his paddock — prompting a tumble that left him upside down, an incident Hollis called 'phenomenal' for a 194-year-old.
Why it matters: The research is at the hypothesis stage: Clark's team has only identified a correlation between youthful mitochondrial methylation patterns and Jonathan's extreme age, and explicitly say they now need to test whether rejuvenating mitochondria could extend lifespan. For longevity researchers, the finding points to mitochondrial stability as a specific mechanism worth pursuing — a narrow but concrete lead in a field short of validated targets.
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