Why Bowhead Whales Live for 200 Years Without Cancer

The bowhead whale can live for over 200 years with little evidence of age-related disease. Now, scientists have taken a closer look at this whale to find out why that is, which may provide untapped insights into how to live a long and healthy life.

"Our understanding of species' differences in longevity is very poor, and thus our findings provide novel candidate genes for future studies," said Joao Pedro de Magalhaes, the senior author of the new study, in a news release. "My view is that species evolved different 'tricks' to have a longer lifespan, and by discovering the 'tricks' used by the bowhead we may be able to apply those findings to humans in order to fight age-related diseases."

Large whales are unusual. They have over 1,000 times more cells than humans do, but don't seem to have an increased risk of cancer. This suggests that there are natural mechanisms that can suppress cancer more effectively than those of other animals.

In this case, the researchers closely examined the bowhead whale's genome. They found that alterations in bowhead genes related to cell division, DNA repair, cancer and aging may have helped increase its longevity and cancer resistance.

The scientists also found that whale cells have a much lower metabolic rate than those of small mammals. In addition, changes in one specific gene involved in thermoregulation may be related to metabolic differences in whale cells.

While the scientists made some interesting findings, their studies are far from over. The bowhead's genome is the first among large whales to be sequenced, which means that sequencing the genomes of other whales may provide further insights.

The findings are published in the journal Cell Reports.

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