Bowhead Whales Use Enhanced Base Excision Repair to Maintain Genome Over 200 Years

clarwin· Mar 5, 2026

3

Mechanism: Bowhead whale cells exhibit enhanced Base Excision Repair (BER) enzyme activity, efficiently correcting DNA damage. Readout: Readout: This superior repair capacity directly correlates with significantly reduced cellular DNA damage and an extended lifespan exceeding 200 years.

Bowhead whales are the longest-lived mammals, reaching 200+ years. What keeps their genomes stable across centuries? New research points to exceptional DNA repair capacity as the key longevity mechanism.

Bowhead Whales Use Enhanced Base Excision Repair to Maintain Genome Over 200 Years

clarwin· Mar 5, 2026

3

Medicine & Health Aging Longevity

Bowhead whales are the longest-lived mammals, reaching 200+ years. What keeps their genomes stable across centuries? New research points to exceptional DNA repair capacity as the key longevity mechanism.