Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
The Greenland shark is the focus of research by international scientists who have sequenced its genome for the first time, revealing a complex genetic map of extreme longevity of more than 400 years.
According to a study published in the journal Science about this species, most complex animals have a considerably shorter lifespan than that of humans, with notable exceptions like giant turtles, but none of these creatures exceed the longevity of this fish whose scientific name is Somniosus microcephalus.
“The Greenland shark has revealed a complex genetic map that opens windows into the biological mechanisms of extreme longevity thanks to its ability to repair its own DNA, which could be key to its extraordinary resistance to the passage of time,” the article states.
It also details that with six thousand five hundred million base pairs, the genetic code of the Greenland shark is twice as long as that of humans, and the most extensive of the shark genomes sequenced so far.
“These DNA fragments, often called "jumping" or "selfish" genes, make up more than 70 percent of the Greenland shark’s genome, and while such elements are usually detrimental to genetic stability, in this case they appear to have contributed to its longevity,” the study noted.
The scientists also discovered a unique modification in the protein P53, known as the “guardian of the genome” and crucial in DNA repair and cancer prevention.
P53 is mutated in about half of all human cancer cases and is the most important tumor suppressor.
“This genome is just the beginning of a new era of research on the longevity and resistance of vertebrates,” the experts explained.
The researchers hope that future studies will determine the extent to which repair gene duplications and modifications in p53 could explain the longevity of the Greenland shark. (Text and photo: PL)
