25/09/2026
Researchers at the University of Rochester say they may have uncovered a clue to the bowhead whale’s remarkable longevity, focusing on a protein known as CIRBP.
The protein plays a role in repairing double-strand breaks in DNA, a process that helps protect cells from damage associated with aging and disease. According to research led by professors Vera Gorbunova and Andrei Seluanov, bowhead whales appear to produce significantly higher levels of CIRBP than many other species.
By studying whale tissue, the researchers explored how this enhanced DNA-repair mechanism could contribute to the animals’ exceptional lifespan. The findings suggest that boosting similar cellular repair processes in humans could potentially help delay age-related diseases, including some cancers, and possibly extend healthy lifespan.
