- Greenland Shark They can live up to 400 years, making them the longest-living fish.
- Researchers are working to unlock the secrets of these sharks’ longevity.
- Understanding the lifespan of Greenland sharks could improve research into human health and ageing.
Abigail AdamsThe wife of America’s second president, she was born in 1744. It’s entirely possible that the Greenland sharks that swam in the North Atlantic at that time are still alive today.
These large carnivorous sharks Live for hundreds of yearsIn 2016, researchers found that the animal can live for at least 272 years, but could potentially live up to 400 years.
But why are these sharks Such longevity There are many mysteries. theory include This could be due to the sharks’ slow growth rate and low metabolic rate, but research is ongoing.
Scientists hope that by unlocking the secrets of how these fish age, humans can help live longer, healthier lives. While we’ll probably never live to be 400 years old, extending our average lifespan by even a decade would be a breakthrough.
One of the scientists working on the study is Euan Camplison, who studies shark metabolism for clues about the ageing process.
“Better understanding of the anatomy and adaptations of long-lived species like the Greenland shark may help improve human health,” Camplison, a PhD student at the University of Manchester, told Business Insider.
A lifelong slow metabolism
Greenland sharks are lazy swimmers found primarily in the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans, and can grow to lengths of 8 to 23 feet and weigh up to 1.5 tons. National Geographic.
The predators eat salmon, eels, seals, and even polar bears when the opportunity arises. But they likely go long periods between meals: Two to six ounces of food a day is enough for the 493-pound fish, one research institute said. 2022 Survey.
Camplisson’s new research, presented earlier this month at the Society for Experimental Biology annual meeting, suggests that sharks’ metabolic rates may not decline as they age, which could help explain why they live so long.
The same is not true for most animals, including humans. For example, the human metabolism is Tends to be slow This can lead to unhealthy weight gain later in life.
Camplison looked at the activity of five metabolic enzymes in preserved greyhound muscle tissue, and said, “In most species, we would expect the activity of these enzymes to change as the animal ages.”
“Some of them will decline over time as they begin to malfunction or deteriorate, but others will compensate and increase activity to keep the animal producing enough energy,” he added.
The Greenland sharks he studied, estimated to be between 60 and 200 years old, showed no significant change in enzyme activity, although of course the same may not be true for the third or fourth century, since a Greenland shark may be middle-aged at 200 years old.
Camplison plans to examine more enzymes to see if and how they change as sharks age.
Aging is complex
There’s still a lot of work to be done before this kind of research can be applied to humans.
“Aging is an incredibly complex system, and we still don’t have clear answers to how it works,” Camplison said.
For example, metabolic changes are only a small part of human aging. Genetic errors, protein instability, and several other processes are also involved.Signs of AgingCamplison believes sharks have more to teach us in these areas.
“We want to take a closer look at some of these characteristics to see if the Greenland shark has any special features. Traditional signs of aging,” He said.
The Greenland shark’s incredible aging process has allowed it to survive for centuries, but it can be a double-edged sword as its environment changes rapidly.
Camplison said the species, listed as “near threatened” by the World Conservation Union, may be too slow to adapt to climate change, marine pollution and other stressors.
