Back
1 request
ZME Science

At 194, the World’s Oldest Tortoise Has a Surprising Secret Hidden in His DNA

https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/first-epigenomic-study-giant-tortoise-194-years-old/

Comparing Jonathan's DNA and four other Aldabra giant tortoises, scientists found 287 variants that effectively help him resist aging.

See all reviews for ZME Science
Total Score
Reviewed by 1 scientist
Evidence
Balance
Clarity

Reviews

DK
Dominik Krzemiński
Reviewed on 2 Nov 2026
8
Evidence
7
Balance
8
Clarity

The article is appropriately cautious: it notes Jonathan is a single animal, compared with only four tortoises, and that the variants haven’t been shown to extend life. Still, “secret” overstates a correlation, and Jonathan’s age is estimated, not documented. Methylation entropy is explained reasonably well.

0
Thank you for reporting this comment, this will be passed on to administrators.