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Scientists Finally Figure Out How Greenland Sharks Can Live to be 500 Years Old

Scientists Finally Figure Out How Greenland Sharks Can Live to be 500 Years Old

Experts believe they have finally discovered the secret of how Greenland sharks live so long.

Greenland shark can live up to 500 years, and it is hoped that their lifespan will be even longer. the key to anti-aging in humans.

Theories about their longevity include their extremely cold habitat, as they live in Arctic and North Atlantic waters at depths of up to 2,647 meters, and their minimal range of movement.

However, studies into the species now suggest that this could all be due to their constant metabolic activity.

New research was presented at the Conference of the Society of Experimental Biology and suggested that, unlike other animals, the Greenland shark’s metabolism does not appear to change over time, regardless of age.

Lead author Ewan Camplisson, a doctoral student at the University of Manchester, explained Living science: “This is important to us because it shows that the sharks do not show traditional signs of aging.”

BBC

Metabolism refers to the chemical process by which enzymes break down nutrients into energy and use that energy for bodily repair. In most animals, metabolism decreases as we age, leading to decreased cell turnover, decreased energy production, and slower recovery.

As part of the study, muscle tissue was taken from 23 Greenland sharks. They were caught off the southern coast of Disko Island in central Greenland and ranged in age from 60 to 200 years old, based on body length.

The researchers then measured the activity of five enzymes in the tissue to determine each shark’s metabolic rate. To their surprise, they found that there was no difference between the ages.

“In most animals, you would expect some enzymes to become less active over time as they break down and become less efficient,” Camplisson explains.

But it appears that Greenland sharks’ stable metabolism prevents them from degenerating in the same way as other animals, allowing them to live surprisingly long lives.

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