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Jonathan the tortoise's genome sequenced to study longevity

Scientists analysed the DNA of the 194-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise, revealing genetic factors potentially linked to his extraordinary lifespan.

AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made

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Jonathan the tortoise's genome sequenced to study longevity

What this story says

  • Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise, is estimated to be 194 years old, making him the world's oldest known land animal.
  • Scientists have sequenced Jonathan's genome and analysed his epigenome to understand the biological mechanisms behind his longevity.
  • The study identified genetic changes in Jonathan associated with longevity, including improved DNA repair and telomere maintenance.
  • Researchers found lower methylation entropy in specific gene regions controlling longevity in Jonathan compared to younger tortoises.

Who covered it

Left 22%(14)Centre 53%(34)Right 25%(16)

Percentages are shares of the 64 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 58 of the 122 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .

Trust

42/100

Craft

65/100

Hype

41/100

122 sources · methodology

Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise, is believed to be approximately 194 years old. Scientists have sequenced his genome and analysed his epigenome, the chemical markers that control gene activity, to investigate the reasons for his exceptional longevity. The research, published in Science Advances, suggests his long life may be due to a combination of genetic traits and the ability of his cellular systems to function in a more youthful manner.

The study found modifications in Jonathan's genome related to pathways associated with longevity, such as DNA repair, mitochondrial function, insulin regulation, and telomere function. Researchers compared Jonathan's epigenome to that of four other Aldabra tortoises of varying ages. They observed that in certain DNA regions controlling longevity genes, Jonathan's methylation entropy was lower than all but one younger tortoise studied. Methylation entropy is an indicator of disorder in a biochemical process, and lower entropy in these regions suggests a more ordered, potentially more youthful, state.

In addition to epigenomic analysis, 287 genes with variants unique to Jonathan were identified. These include genes linked to tumour suppression and DNA repair. The tortoise also carries additional copies of a gene that encodes a protein known to target aged and cancerous cells. Researchers noted that while Jonathan has lived through significant historical events and is now mostly blind due to cataracts, he retains a good appetite.

Disagreement on Jonathan's age

While most reports state Jonathan is 194 years old, one outlet reported his age as 192 years. Source 21 (Protothema) stated Jonathan is 192 years old, while Source 27 (news4health.gr) also stated he is 192 years old. Other reports, including Source 1 (Hot News) and Source 2 (CTV News), state he is 194 years old.

What the coverage left out

None of the left-rated digests mention the specific details of Jonathan's diet or the environmental factors on St. Helena island that may contribute to his longevity, as reported in the full reports from Source 1 (Hot News) and Source 2 (CTV News). The full reports also noted that the study involved only one tortoise, making it difficult to definitively attribute his longevity solely to genetic traits.

Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 4 times, most recently on 9 Oct 2026, 16:30, and will add the sides that appear.

How other outlets pictured it

Which photograph to run is each newsroom’s own choice. The leaning beside a name is that outlet’s published rating, not a claim that the pictures divide along it. Every picture is shown from the outlet’s own server and links to the article it ran in.

Jonathan, the world's oldest tortoise. (St. Helena Tourism / Mathias Falcone)
CTV NewsCentre

How each side covered it

Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.

Left

14 rated outlets

  • Left-rated reports highlighted the potential for human longevity derived from the study of Jonathan's genetics. Several outlets focused on the idea that understanding Jonathan's DNA could help humans live longer. Source 14 (404 Media) stated Jonathan "Could Hold the Secrets to Defying Death," and Source 18 (Gizmodo) noted that "What they learned could some day help us extend our longevity." Source 6 (Spiegel) mentioned researchers' hopes that "one day people will be able to live longer." The full report from Source 1 (Hot News) detailed the scientific findings, including the comparison of Jonathan's genome to a cookbook and his epigenome to handwritten notes, and described his personality as a 'gentle giant'.

Centre

34 rated outlets

  • Centre-rated reports focused on Jonathan's status as the world's oldest land animal and the scientific findings about his genetic makeup. Outlets like Source 8 (Good News Network) noted Jonathan "reinforces what we know from humans about healthy aging." Source 16 (Kreiszeitung) and Source 24 (saarbruecker-zeitung.de) highlighted that Jonathan is "amazingly young in the cells" and that researchers want to learn from his genes. Source 2 (CTV News) provided a comprehensive overview, quoting the study's co-lead author Benjamin Vaisvil and veterinarian Joe Hollins, who described Jonathan as a "gentle giant" and an "icon."

Right

16 rated outlets

  • Right-rated reports tended to focus on the "secrets" and "keys" associated with Jonathan's longevity, often framing it as a potential anti-aging discovery. Source 5 (La Razón) highlighted "The Genetic Keys Associated with the Longevity of Jonathan." Source 13 (Welt) mentioned "287 Gene Variants, What This 194-Year-Old Turtle Reveals About Aging." Source 25 (focus.de) used the headline "Anti-Aging Secret of Tortoise Jonathan (194) Ventilated." Source 9 (Clarin) noted Jonathan "could have the secret of eternal youth" and mentioned his survival through historical events like world wars and pandemics.

Questions about this coverage

How did the left and right cover Jonathan the tortoise's genome sequenced to study longevity?
Of the 64 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 22% are rated left, 53% are rated centre, 25% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 122. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
Is Jonathan the tortoise's genome sequenced to study longevity left or right?
Neither side dominates it. Of the 64 rated outlets on this story, 22% are rated left, 53% are rated centre, 25% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
Is the coverage of Jonathan the tortoise's genome sequenced to study longevity biased?
Jonathan the tortoise's genome sequenced to study longevity is one event reported by 122 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
Which outlets covered Jonathan the tortoise's genome sequenced to study longevity?
122 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
How old is Jonathan the tortoise?
Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise, is estimated to be approximately 194 years old. This makes him the world's oldest known terrestrial animal. While most reports agree on this age, one source stated he is 192 years old.
What have scientists discovered about Jonathan's longevity?
Scientists have sequenced Jonathan's genome and analysed his epigenome, identifying genetic changes associated with longevity. These include improved DNA repair, telomere function, and lower methylation entropy in regions controlling longevity genes, suggesting a more youthful cellular state.
What unique genetic features does Jonathan possess?
Researchers identified 287 genes with variants unique to Jonathan, including those linked to tumour suppression and DNA repair. He also carries extra copies of a gene that targets aged and cancerous cells, potentially contributing to his extended lifespan.
Can Jonathan's genetic secrets help humans live longer?
While the research is ongoing, scientists hope that understanding the genetic mechanisms behind Jonathan's longevity could eventually offer insights into extending human lifespan. Some reports suggest that certain aging mechanisms may be shared across species.

Read it at the source

122 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.

Left

14
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Centre

34
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Right

16
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Not rated

58
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