A 400-year-old shark: what is its secret?

In the icy waters of Greenland swims a little-known shark: the Greenland shark. Measuring 6 meters long, it can live up to 400 years.
German researchers have undertaken the task of decoding 92% of its genome to understand the secret of its longevity.

This discovery could prove fruitful for understanding human aging and offer concrete insights for health.

A true phantom of the northern oceans, this shark silently navigates the icy waters of the North Atlantic and the Arctic. Patient, this shark grows only one centimeter per year; this does not prevent it from reaching impressive dimensions of up to 6 meters after several centuries. Even more surprising: this shark only reaches puberty at around 100 years of age; a peculiarity that intrigues researchers.

400 years puts the Greenland shark at the top of the list of the longest-living species on Earth.

By comparison, one could imagine that a specimen began its life in 1627, during the reign of Louis XIII in France.

To unravel the mysteries of its longevity, a team of German biologists undertook to sequence the DNA of the Greenland shark to identify the genetic mutations responsible for its resistance to time. Dr. Steve Hoffman and his team succeeded in deciphering 92% of this shark's genome.

First surprise: the Greenland shark's genome is larger than that of its studied counterparts.

Second surprise: 70% of its genes are "jumping genes," present in several locations within the DNA sequence.

Generally, the presence of these mobile genes is a source of danger for the organism; they can cause undesirable mutations or even cancer. In the Greenland shark, these "jumping genes" appear to repair DNA and neutralize undesirable effects, thus reinforcing the integrity of the genome.

This research is a boon for human health and the fight against aging. The goal is not to extend life for decades, but rather to delay cellular aging and the diseases associated with it.

Clearly, nature is full of exciting secrets.

Source : msn.com