Bowhead whales live longer thanks to mutation that also shrinks testes


We could have found one of many key causes for the extraordinary lifespans of bowhead whales, which might stay for greater than 200 years

Life



23 September 2022

Aerial vew of five bowhead whales socialising in shallow water

Bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) are the longest-lived mammal recognized

Tony Wu/naturepl.com

Bowhead whales are the longest-lived mammals recognized, with one male estimated to have been about 211 years previous when it was killed by hunters. Now it has been discovered they’ve a gene duplication that seems to sluggish the division of cells, permitting the whales to stay longer – however at the price of lowered male fertility.

The lengthy lifetime of bowheads might be a results of many genetic modifications, however this one could also be particularly essential, says Vincent Lynch of the …