Secret to long life for humans may lie in DNA of the bowhead whale that lives for 200 years

Posted: January 5, 2015 at 6:43 pm

Researchers studied the unique genetic patterns of the bowhead whale The world's longest-lived mammal with a lifespan of more than 200 years Identified unique genes that help them avoid diseases, including cancer And now scientists wants to use genes to prolong human life

By Khaleda Rahman for MailOnline

Published: 13:44 EST, 4 January 2015 | Updated: 17:59 EST, 5 January 2015

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Scientists may have found the key to prolonging human life after discovering the genes that give the world's longest lived mammals a lifespan of more than 200 years.

By studying the genetic patterns of the bowhead whale, researchers found the unique genes linked to resisting cancer and repairing DNA damage.

Most mammals die well before reaching the age of 100, but scientists have long tried to understand how bowheads outlive other whales species andavoid illnesses including heart disease and cancer.

Scientists may have discovered the key to prolonging human life after studying the genes of bowhead whales

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Secret to long life for humans may lie in DNA of the bowhead whale that lives for 200 years

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