The 200-Year Old Whale

2026-03-10

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Bowhead whales can live for nearly 2 centuries, weigh as much as 22 elephants, and– surprisingly– rarely get cancer. So what’s their sea-cret? Sarah Lando from Genome BC brings us the splashy new genomic research behind these Arctic giants’ longevity, and what it could mean for the future of cancer research.Resources1. “This whale lives for centuries: its secret could help extend human lifespan”- Nature2. Evidence for improved DNA repair in long-lived bowhead whale - Nature3.

Bowhead whales can live for nearly 2 centuries, weigh as much as 22 elephants, and– surprisingly– rarely get cancer. So what’s their sea-cret? Sarah Lando from Genome BC brings us the splashy new genomic research behind these Arctic giants’ longevity, and what it could mean for the future of cancer research.

Resources

1. “This whale lives for centuries: its secret could help extend human lifespan”- Nature

2. Evidence for improved DNA repair in long-lived bowhead whale - Nature

3. Peto’s Paradox: Large mammals may hold clues in preventing cancer among humans - HealthyDebate

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