New research on Greenland sharks reveals genetic traits linked to their 400-year lifespan and resistance to cancer. Multiple copies of genes related to immune function and DNA repair may hold key insights for human aging and health.
Greenland sharks, the mysterious giants of the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans, are known to be the longest-living vertebrates on Earth, with lifespans reaching up to 400 years. This remarkable longevity has puzzled scientists for years. While initially attributed to their cold habitat and slow movements, new research into the sharks' DNA is shedding light on the genetic secrets behind their extraordinary lifespans.
A recent study by researchers in Japan, who sequenced the genome of the Greenland shark, has revealed surprising genetic traits that could explain why these creatures don’t commonly develop cancer and why they age so slowly. The team discovered multiple copies of genes that affect the NF-κB signaling pathway, which is crucial for immune system function and regulating inflammation. When disrupted, this pathway allows harmful pathogens and tumor cells to thrive. A strong, functioning NF-κB pathway may be key to the shark’s impressive health and longevity.
Interestingly, Greenland sharks are not alone in this unique genetic feature. The red sea urchin, another long-living marine species, also has multiple copies of genes related to this pathway, supporting the idea that enhanced immune system regulation contributes to extended lifespans in marine animals.
Further research on the Greenland shark's genome also identified additional clues to their remarkable age. Scientists found multiple copies of 81 genes involved in DNA repair, including an altered version of the TP53 gene, which plays a critical role in suppressing tumors and repairing DNA damage. This mutation may also contribute to the shark’s extraordinary ability to fend off cancer and age more slowly.
Although humans will likely never reach the Greenland shark's lifespan, the insights from studying these creatures may eventually benefit human medicine. Experts suggest that the genetic mechanisms found in Greenland sharks could lead to advancements in treatments that promote healthier aging, such as new pharmaceuticals or gene therapies. As João Pedro de Magalhães, a molecular biogerontologist at the University of Birmingham, noted, “These animals live longer than human beings, without the help of medicine, hospitals, or healthcare.”
The genetic findings on Greenland sharks suggest a fascinating link between immune response, inflammation, tumor suppression, and longevity. Shigeharu Kinoshita, a researcher at the University of Tokyo and co-author of the study, pointed out that the increase in genes involved in NF-κB signaling could be directly tied to the shark's ability to live so long. This opens up the possibility of future medical breakthroughs based on the shark's genetic secrets.
To explore this further, scientists plan to continue their research, examining not just the shark's genome but also its metabolism, heart function, behavior, and ecology. Some hope to compare the genetic makeup of the Greenland shark with other long-lived species, such as the bowhead whale, to uncover more about the biological mechanisms behind extreme longevity.
Understanding aging is a complex challenge, and while scientists do not yet have all the answers, the continued study of Greenland sharks could bring us closer to solving this puzzle, benefiting both human health and our understanding of life’s most enduring creatures.
China has openly supported Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland following renewed interest from US President Donald Trump in acquiring the autonomous Danish territory.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said “you cannot spy against an ally” following reports that the U.S. has increased intelligence efforts in Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Denmark’s King Frederik began a visit to Greenland on Monday to reinforce ties with the semi-autonomous territory following U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls to acquire the island.
Greenland’s prime minister has ruled out any U.S. takeover of the Arctic territory, stressing that Greenland is not a piece of property to be bought.
Greenland’s new Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Sunday that the island is working to deepen its ties with Denmark in response to what he called disrespectful rhetoric from the U.S. administration
A rare naval misstep has shaken North Korea’s tightly choreographed military image, prompting an urgent internal probe and public scolding from Kim Jong Un.
Baku hosted the 6th plenary meeting of the UN’s GlobE Network, gathering anti-corruption officials from 92 countries to strengthen global cooperation and chart the network’s next steps.
The suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy aides in Washington has been charged with first-degree murder, the U.S. Justice Department confirmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the fatal shooting of two embassy staffers in Washington as a vile act of antisemitic violence, intensifying fears of growing hostility toward Israelis abroad amid mounting global tensions.
G7 finance leaders meeting in Canada pledged to tackle global imbalances and suggested tougher sanctions on Russia, while also taking aim at unfair economic practices widely attributed to China.
Tensions flare in the India-France Rafale deal as France refuses to share the fighter jet’s source code, limiting India’s ability to integrate indigenous weapons and reducing its combat autonomy.
France has rejected India’s request to share source codes needed to integrate indigenous weapons into Rafale fighter jets. Despite repeated appeals, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation has refused to compromise on the issue
AnewZ and Kazakhstan’s Jibek Joly/Silk Way TV channel co-hosted a special AnewZ Talks in Astana at Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU), uniting global experts and young leaders at Silk Road Media Group’s journalism school to explore the growing intersection of media and diplomacy.
Anton Kobyakov, adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum that the USSR’s dissolution was legally invalid and that the Soviet Union still exists under constitutional law, framing the Ukraine war as an “internal process.”
The Tehran Dialogue Forum 2025, scheduled for May 18–19, will host 200 international guests, including 40 current and former European officials.
A delegation led by Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Chief Negotiator of COP29, participated in Climate Week in Panama, held from May 19–21, 2025, in Panama City.
Even if global warming is limited to 1.5°C — the goal set by nearly 200 countries — rising seas will still pose a major threat to coastal communities for centuries, scientists say.
Colombia lost nearly 88,900 hectares of forest — an area larger than New York City — in just six months, according to a new report from the country’s public watchdog.
At least 10 people have died and another 10 remain missing following a flash flood and landslide in Indonesia’s West Papua province.
The U.S. faces a dangerous mix of rising tornadoes and fewer meteorologists, straining weather warning systems. Tornado counts are 35% above average this year, testing an understaffed National Weather Service amid growing climate-driven severe weather.
A rare naval misstep has shaken North Korea’s tightly choreographed military image, prompting an urgent internal probe and public scolding from Kim Jong Un.
Baku hosted the 6th plenary meeting of the UN’s GlobE Network, gathering anti-corruption officials from 92 countries to strengthen global cooperation and chart the network’s next steps.
The suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy aides in Washington has been charged with first-degree murder, the U.S. Justice Department confirmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the fatal shooting of two embassy staffers in Washington as a vile act of antisemitic violence, intensifying fears of growing hostility toward Israelis abroad amid mounting global tensions.
G7 finance leaders meeting in Canada pledged to tackle global imbalances and suggested tougher sanctions on Russia, while also taking aim at unfair economic practices widely attributed to China.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment