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Researchers have sequenced the genome of Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise estimated to be about 194 years old and described as the world’s oldest living land animal. The study reports genetic variants associated with aging pathways and an unusually low-entropy pattern in part of his methylome, but further research is needed to understand what those findings mean.
Researchers have sequenced the genome of Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise estimated to be about 194 years old and described as the world’s oldest living land animal, identifying genetic features that may help scientists investigate aging. The study, published in Science Advances, reports variants in several aging-related pathways and an unusually low-entropy pattern in part of Jonathan’s methylome; it does not establish that any single feature explains his exceptional lifespan.
The researchers studied genetic material collected with cheek swabs, then compared Jonathan’s genome with those of other tortoises, including a 36-year-old tortoise named Tank. The study reports variants in pathways associated with DNA repair, telomere maintenance, insulin regulation, mitochondrial function and autophagy, the process by which cells recycle components. These findings point to several avenues for further study rather than a single identified cause of longevity.
A separate analysis examined Jonathan’s methylome—chemical modifications that influence gene expression. The team found that the mitochondrial-related portion appeared unusually low in entropy, or comparatively well-preserved, against the researchers’ comparisons. The report describes a comparison with a five-year-old tortoise, a gap of 189 years based on the animals’ estimated ages. Most of Jonathan’s genome, however, showed age-related entropy, the account of the study says.
Obtaining the sample took years. Study author Stephen Clark, an aging researcher at the Kallel Foundation, first contacted Jonathan’s caretakers in 2017. A blood draw was considered too risky, so researchers sought a mouth swab instead. Early sample problems, the COVID-19 pandemic and new access rules contributed to delays; the samples were eventually transported from Saint Helena to Florida by the U.S. Space Force, according to 404 Media.
What Jonathan’s Biology May Reveal
Jonathan’s age makes him a rare subject for research into long-term survival and biological aging. Comparing an animal with an estimated lifespan approaching two centuries against younger tortoises gives researchers a chance to look for patterns that are difficult to study in humans, who do not live nearly as long. The methylome comparison is particularly unusual because it lets the team examine age-related differences across a very wide span.
The results could help scientists identify biological processes worth investigating in other long-lived species. Clark told 404 Media that his team hopes such research may point toward targets relevant to human healthspan and lifespan. That is a research goal, not a demonstrated medical benefit: the study does not show that Jonathan’s genetic features can be used to extend human life, nor does it establish how much each variant contributes to his age.
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From Seychelles to Saint Helena
Jonathan is an Aldabra giant tortoise, a species known for long lifespans. Researchers estimate that he hatched around 1832 in the Seychelles archipelago. In the 1880s, when he was thought to be in his fifties, he was brought to Saint Helena with three other tortoises as a gift to the island’s British colonial governor. He has lived at the governor’s residence, Plantation House, since then, according to the source report.
His age is an estimate, not a precisely documented hatch date. Still, at roughly 194, he is described as an outlier even among tortoises of a species in which individuals can live beyond a century. The new analysis follows years of coordination with his caretakers and adds genetic data to what is known about his extraordinary longevity.
“Aging is very complicated, and there’s all these different hallmarks. That’s why this Jonathan study is so interesting. We’re still just at the very beginning of trying to understand aging.”
— Stephen Clark, aging researcher and study author, speaking to 404 Media
What the Genome Cannot Yet Explain
The study does not show that the identified variants caused Jonathan to live so long. His age is estimated, and the findings are based on a small set of tortoise comparisons rather than a large study able to separate the effects of individual genes, environment and other factors. The low-entropy mitochondrial methylome is a lead for further work, not proof that it protected him from aging.
Researchers also do not yet know how the reported genetic patterns relate to health or lifespan across the broader Aldabra giant tortoise population. Clark said more research is needed to follow up on the methylome finding and understand the interacting components that influence aging. The source report does not specify a timetable for that work.
Further Comparisons Are Needed
The immediate next step is additional research testing whether the methylome pattern and other reported variants appear in more long-lived tortoises, and whether those features change in a consistent way with age. Wider comparisons could help distinguish patterns associated with Jonathan’s individual biology from mechanisms shared by his species.
For now, Jonathan remains at Plantation House on Saint Helena, where he is cared for alongside other tortoises and is a local attraction. The published genome analysis offers researchers new material to study, but any connection to human health or lifespan remains a long-term possibility rather than an outcome of this study.
Key Questions
How old is Jonathan?
Researchers estimate that Jonathan is about 194 years old. He is thought to have hatched around 1832, but his exact birth date is not known.
What did researchers find in Jonathan’s genome?
The study reports variants associated with pathways including DNA repair, telomere maintenance, insulin regulation, mitochondrial function and cellular recycling. It also reports an unusually low-entropy pattern in the mitochondrial-related portion of his methylome.
Does the study explain why Jonathan lived so long?
No. The findings identify possible areas for further investigation, but the study does not establish that any particular gene variant or methylome feature caused Jonathan’s exceptional age.
Where does Jonathan live?
Jonathan lives at Plantation House on Saint Helena. He was brought to the island from the Seychelles in the 1880s, according to the account of his history.
Source: hn
