Latest news with #GreenlandShark
India Today
5 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Nature's Timekeepers: Animals That Outlive Humans
Nature's Timekeepers: Animals That Outlive Humans BY: Kashmik Singh Chouhan The Greenland shark holds the title for the world's longest-living vertebrate. Swimming in the cold waters of the Arctic, this ancient creature can live over 400 years, with some individuals born before the 1600s still alive today! Greenland Shark – The Deep-Sea Elder Also known as Arctica islandica, the ocean quahog clam has been recorded to live for over 500 years. One specimen, nicknamed "Ming," was estimated to be born in 1499—older than the Mughal Empire! Ocean Quahog Clam – The 500-Year Bivalve These massive whales native to Arctic waters can live for over 200 years. With a thick blubber coat and a slow metabolism, bowhead whales defy age, surviving through generations of oceanic history. Bowhead Whale – Arctic Giant with a Long Life Galápagos tortoises are famous for their longevity, often living well past 100 years. Some have even crossed the 170-year mark. Their calm pace and island lifestyle likely contribute to their impressive lifespan. Galápagos Tortoise – The Slow-Moving Centenarian Living in the Pacific waters, red sea urchins may not look impressive—but they can live over 200 years! Despite their simple appearance, their bodies resist aging remarkably well. Red Sea Urchin – A Spiny Survivor While most koi live 25-40 years, there are rare stories of koi like 'Hanako,' who reportedly lived to be 226 years old in Japan. With proper care, they're more than just decorative—they're legends. Koi Fish – Pond Royalty with Centuries to Spare
Cision Canada
15-05-2025
- Science
- Cision Canada
An iconic owl, the oldest shark, and the largest starfish Français
WENDAKE, QC, May 15, 2025 /CNW/ - Many Canadians have fond childhood memories of nature – seeing an owl at dusk, tidepooling for starfish, gazing out to sea hoping to spot a shark, or playing on a moss-carpeted log. This week, the expert Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife In Canada (COSEWIC) met near Québec City to consider the conservation status of 14 wildlife species, including some memory makers. Québec's provincial bird, the Snowy Owl, was assessed as Threatened. This iconic species nests throughout the Arctic and winters further south, and is culturally significant to many Indigenous nations. And, while it can still be found in every province and territory in the country, it is declining as a result of some of the impacts of climate change and other threats. According to Louise Blight, co-chair of the subcommittee overseeing birds, "Not only does this species nest in a region with one of the fastest-changing climates on the planet, but when it heads south for the winter it faces additional threats - collisions, electrocution, rodenticide poisoning, and diseases like avian influenza." The extraordinary Greenland Shark was assessed for the first time, and found to be Special Concern. This large shark frequents the cold, clear waters of Canada's Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. Greenland Shark is considered the longest-living vertebrate species in the world, taking a record-breaking 150 years to reach maturity and then continuing to breed for at least another century. This species is affected by fisheries bycatch and the impacts of an accelerated rate of climate change in Arctic regions. Its extremely long generation time means populations rebound very slowly if they decline. Bruce Leaman, co-chair of the subcommittee that oversees marine fish, highlighted the special biology of this species: "The childhood of one individual shark spans the careers of five fishery biologists. However, we do have to keep learning about them, because the species is likely very sensitive to incremental losses, and threats are not declining." The Sunflower Sea Star is the world's largest starfish - it has up to 24 arms and is able to grow to over a metre in diameter. This Pacific Coast keystone species was assessed as Endangered. This follows a mass mortality event across its entire Alaska-to-Mexico range caused by the mysterious Sea Star Wasting Disease associated with "the blob", the ocean heat wave of 2014-2015. Though highly mobile, Sunflower Sea Stars cannot crawl away from this scourge. Conservative estimates put their decline at over 75%. Some areas of refuge may still exist in the colder waters of northern fjords, but only time will tell. Isabelle Côté, Professor of Marine Ecology and Conservation at Simon Fraser University, highlighted the situation: "It is hard to overstate the ecological impact of this loss on our marine ecosystems." A moss and a lichen were also assessed, both as Endangered. Part of the lush green backdrop of BC's forests in the Fraser Valley, the endemic Roell's Brotherella Moss is threatened both by increases in torrential floods and by severe droughts. The Cupped Fringe Lichen grows on the bark of broadleaf trees in southern Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. As the invasive Emerald Ash Borer kills many of the trees it lives on, this large and attractive lichen is becoming a rare sight. The nine other wildlife species brought forward include a large land snail, six freshwater fish species, a bee that lays its eggs in the nests of other bees, and one of only three rattlesnake species that occur in Canada. COSEWIC Chair David Lee summed up the results: "It is disheartening when we learn that iconic species are endangered in Canada. However, identifying threats is critical to ensure we continue to respect the stewardship of our ancestors and to help make memories for our grandchildren." Next meeting COSEWIC's next wildlife species assessment meeting is scheduled for November 2025. About COSEWIC COSEWIC assesses the status of important units of biological diversity considered to be at risk in Canada. To do so, COSEWIC uses scientific, Aboriginal traditional and community knowledge provided by experts from governments, academia and other organizations. Summaries of assessments are currently available to the public on the COSEWIC website and will be submitted to the Federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change in fall 2025 for listing consideration under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). At that time, the status reports will be publicly available on the Species at Risk Public Registry. COSEWIC comprises members from each provincial and territorial government wildlife agency, four federal entities (Canadian Wildlife Service, Parks Canada Agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Canadian Museum of Nature), four Non-government Science Members, Co-chairs of the Species Specialist and the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittees, and two early career scientists. At its most recent meeting, COSEWIC assessed 14 wildlife species in various COSEWIC risk categories, including 5 Endangered, 3 Threatened, and 4 Special Concern. In addition to these wildlife species that are in COSEWIC risk categories, COSEWIC assessed 2 as Data Deficient. Definition of COSEWIC terms and status categories: Wildlife Species: A species, subspecies, variety, or geographically or genetically distinct population of animal, plant or other organism, other than a bacterium or virus, that is wild by nature and is either native to Canada or has extended its range into Canada without human intervention and has been present in Canada for at least 50 years. Extinct (X): A wildlife species that no longer exists. Extirpated (XT): A wildlife species that no longer exists in the wild in Canada, but exists elsewhere. Endangered (E): A wildlife species facing imminent extirpation or extinction. Threatened (T): A wildlife species that is likely to become Endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its extirpation or extinction. Special Concern (SC): A wildlife species that may become Threatened or Endangered because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats. Not at Risk (NAR): A wildlife species that has been evaluated and found to be not at risk of extinction given the current circumstances. Data Deficient (DD): A category that applies when the available information is insufficient (a) to resolve a wildlife species' eligibility for assessment or (b) to permit an assessment of the wildlife species' risk of extinction. Species at Risk: A wildlife species that has been assessed as Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern. SOURCE Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada Dr. David Lee, Chair, COSEWIC, Telephone: 514-366-9574, [email protected]; For inquiries on amphibians & reptiles (Eastern Massasauga, Snapping Turtle): Dr. Sara Ashpole, St. Lawrence University, Telephone: 315-229-5890, [email protected]; For inquiries on birds (Snowy Owl): Dr. Louise Blight, Procellaria Research & Consulting and University of Victoria, [email protected]; For inquiries on freshwater fishes (Bull Trout, Pugnose Minnow): Dr. Margaret F. Docker, University of Manitoba, Telephone : 204-474-8831, [email protected]; For inquiries on mosses and lichens (Cupped Fringe Lichen, Roell's Brotherella Moss): Dr. André Arsenault, Natural Resources Canada, Telephone: 709-638-2365, [email protected]; For inquiries on Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge: Roger Gallant, [email protected]; For general inquiries: COSEWIC Secretariat, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 351 St. Joseph Blvd, Gatineau QC, K1A 0H3, [email protected]; For inquiries on arthropods (Macropis Cuckoo Bee): Jennifer M. Heron, [email protected]; For inquiries on echinodermata (ad hoc): (Sunflower Sea Star): Dr. Arne Mooers, Simon Fraser University, Telephone (1): 778-782-3979, Telephone (2): 604-358-2313, [email protected]; For inquiries on marine fishes (Greenland Shark): Dr. Bruce Leaman, Telephone: 250-510-3625, [email protected]; For inquiries on molluscs (Big-tooth Whitelip): Dr. Dwayne Lepitzki, Telephone : 403-762-0864,
Forbes
14-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
How Greenland Sharks Keep Their Vision For 400 Years
Greenland sharks grow a centimeter a year but live for centuries. The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) can be described as the Methuselah of the sea. With a lifespan estimated at up to 400 years or more, these Arctic and North Atlantic giants have captured human's attention for their remarkable longevity. But until recently, one mystery lingered: can these ancient sharks actually see!? After all, these predators inhabit deep, cold, dark waters — some as frigid as 30°F (-1.1°C) and as deep as 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) — and many have parasitic copepods attached to their corneas and sometimes even their butts. Add in centuries of aging and you might assume that heir eyes have long since lost their function. In fact, their infamous eye copepod (scientifically known as Ommatokoita elongata) is thought to destroy the corneal tissue, resulting in eventual partial blindness. But new research combining genomic sequencing, retinal imaging, and molecular analysis tells a different story: Greenland sharks can still see, and their vision is surprisingly well-preserved despite being centuries old. Unlike animals that evolve in total darkness, like cavefish, and lose their vision altogether, Greenland sharks retain a full suite of retinal structures. The researchers, led by Lily Fogg at the University of Basel, Switzerland, found densely packed, elongated rods in their eyes (structures specialized for low-light vision). Fogg and her colleagues found that the rods are not only present… they are fully functioning! Histological examination showed no signs of retinal degeneration, even in individuals likely several hundreds of years old. That's notable because in most long-lived species, including humans, age-related eye deterioration is expected. But Greenland sharks seem to defy this biological rule. So what's their secret? Well, it may lie in the type of vision they rely on. Like many deep-sea creatures, Greenland sharks have a rod-dominated retina. Rods are the photoreceptors responsible for scotopic, or low-light, vision. They're highly sensitive and can detect minimal light,which is ideal for life in the dim, murky deep sea. In contrast, cones — photoreceptors that handle bright-light and color vision — are either rare or nonfunctional in this species. The genetic analysis confirmed this. Nearly all cone-specific vision genes were either missing or had turned into pseudogenes, while the rod-specific genes were intact and actively expressed. It's a clear case of evolutionary prioritization: keep what's useful, discard what's not. Greenland sharks may live up to 400 years, and remarkably, their eyes remain functional for just as ... More long. One of the biggest surprises for the team came from looking at how well these rod-based systems are maintained over time. Using retinal RNA-sequencing, they found that not only are the essential vision genes still active, but the cells themselves (the rods, ganglion cells, bipolar and amacrine cells, and supportive Müller glia) are all present and structurally sound! The architecture of the retina remained completely intact across multiple specimens. For an animal potentially older than the United States… that's an astonishing biological achievement. How, exactly, is this possible? One clue may lie in the shark's ability to maintain genomic stability over centuries, as the study found signs of robust DNA repair mechanisms at play in the retina. While efficient DNA repair is a hallmark of longevity in several organisms, in the Greenland shark it may be especially important for preserving retinal health in such extreme conditions. Cold water could also play a role by slowing metabolic processes and reducing cellular wear and tear, but it's likely a combination of both genetics and environment that allows their eyes to remain functional for so long. While Greenland sharks may still rely on vision to some extent, it's not perfect. Hard to be when some individuals have parasites attaches to their corneas! But Ommatokoita elongata doesn't appear to fully blind the sharks. Their optic tectum (a brain region involved in processing visual information) is still comparable in size to that of other sharks, which suggests that sight remains behaviorally relevant. The sharks also retain a tapetum lucidum, a reflective layer behind the retina that boosts their ability to capture light. You might've seen this in the eyeshine that cats, dogs and nocturnal animals sport when you shine a light near or on their eyes in the dark. Altogether, this new study pushes back against the idea that longevity and vision are incompatible in deep-sea environments. And unlike species that evolved to shed unnecessary traits, the Greenland shark has kept its ability to see intact, even if it is modified for its shadowy world. 'Together, these findings highlight the extraordinary adaptability of vertebrate sensory systems in extreme environments and the remarkable preservation of organ function over hundreds of years,' the team concludes.
Cision Canada
02-05-2025
- Science
- Cision Canada
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada to meet in Wendake to deliberate on the conservation status of 16 wildlife species Français
OTTAWA, ON, May 2, 2025 /CNW/ - The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) offers independent advice to the federal government. Members are experts in wildlife biology and meet twice a year to consider wildlife species that may need legal protection because they are threatened with extinction from Canada. COSEWIC will review the status of 16 Canadian wildlife species at their May meeting. These include four new wildlife species and twelve whose current conservation status needs reconsideration. The new species include the world's largest starfish, whose numbers have plummeted from a mysterious disease on the west coast, a lichen that lives primarily on threatened Ash trees in Ontario, a naturally rare but now rarer land snail at the northern edge of its range in Eastern Canada, and the largest fish in the Arctic Ocean, the incredibly long-lived Greenland Shark. COSEWIC will also evaluate Snowy Owl, three reptiles, six freshwater fish, a moss, and a sneaky bee that lays its eggs in other bees' nests. The meeting will take place from May 5 to 8, 2025, at the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations in the heart of the Huron-Wendat Nation at Wendake, Quebec. Following the meeting, a press release will be issued that summarizes the results of the discussions, highlighting ongoing Canadian conservation challenges and successful conservation actions. For more information, please see the COSEWIC website at David S. Lee (he/him/il) Chair, Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) @cosewic Président, Comité sur la situation des espèces en péril au Canada (COSEPAC) @cosewic
Miami Herald
23-04-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Matter Bio Announces Landmark Collaboration to Decode Exceptional Longevity at Unprecedented Scale
Groundbreaking longevity research initiative brings together leading scientists and institutions to decode the genetic basis of extreme lifespan BROOKLYN, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / April 23, 2025 / Matter Bio, a pioneering biotechnology company focused on extending healthspan through advanced genetic interventions, today announced the launch of a groundbreaking longevity research initiative that brings together leading scientists and institutions to decode the genetic basis of extreme lifespan. Leveraging multi-omics technologies - including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics- and processing this unique dataset with cutting age AI analysis, the project will integrate data from human supercentenarians and exceptionally long-lived mammalian species, representing one of the most comprehensive efforts in aging science to date. A World-Class Alliance This collaborative network unites Matter Bio's research and development capabilities with premier scientists from top institutions dedicated to uncovering the foundations of healthy aging, including: George Church, Ph.D. (Harvard and MIT)Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical SchoolNir Barzilai, M.D. (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)Director of the Institute for Aging ResearchJan Vijg, Ph.D. (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)Professor and Chairman of the Department of Gorbunova, Ph.D. (University of Rochester)Co-director of the Rochester Aging Research CenterYousin Suh, Ph.D. (Columbia University)Director of Reproductive Aging and Chaired ProfessorPaul Robbins, Ph.D. (University of Minnesota)Co-Director of the Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism (iBAM)Laura Niedernhofer, M.D., Ph.D. (University of Minnesota)Co-Director of the Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism (iBAM) Additional collaborators include experts affiliated with the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR). Decades of research have shown a striking correlation: species with extended lifespans consistently exhibit superior genome stability, resulting not only in longer life, but also in drastically reduced rates of cancer and other age-related diseases. This project aims to build on those findings at an unprecedented scale. "At Matter Bio, we're determined to shift the paradigm from disease treatment to preventative health solutions that can significantly extend the healthy human lifespan," said Chris Bradley, M.S., CEO of Matter Bio. "This collaboration brings together extraordinary expertise to drive one of the most comprehensive efforts in longevity science ever undertaken." The consortium will analyze biological data from over 10,000 human centenarians, 20,000 members of their families and will compare these sequences against over 200,000 regular human genome sequences. This data will be analyzed alongside samples from a combination of more than 300 long-lived and short-lived animal species, including the Greenland Shark, thought to be capable of living over 400 years. Multiple tissues and sample types will be studied for each species, generating tens of thousands of data points for the largest comparative analysis of its kind. By systematically comparing long-lived organisms to shorter-lived controls, the research team aims to identify key pro-longevity genes and molecular pathways. These findings will serve as a powerful foundation for developing targeted therapeutics and interventions to extend healthspan and combat age-related diseases. "By uniting large-scale genomic data, powerful computational tools, and advanced gene delivery platforms, we have a rare opportunity to intervene in aging processes in ways never before possible," said Harvard geneticist and co-founder of Matter Bio, Dr. George Church. The initiative also benefits from the expertise of pioneers in aging research. Nir Barzilai, M.D., of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, noted, "Centenarians have a longer health-span and a compression of morbidity rooted in their genetics that slows their aging. Several drugs have been developed in part from data collected from the initial studies (Merck and Ionis). This is an ongoing project, and the team has been working together to prove the concept for this accelerated phase." Jan Vijg, Ph.D., also of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, added, "Pinpointing the genetic signatures that drive longevity is one of the greatest challenges in modern science. Working with Matter Bio to conduct comprehensive multi-omics analysis brings us closer than ever to unraveling these complexities." "Joining forces with Matter Bio will help transition fundamental discoveries in aging research into real-world gene therapies," said Vera Gorbunova, Ph.D., of the University of Rochester. "I'm excited about the potential to address the root causes of aging rather than simply tackling diseases after they occur." This ambitious initiative represents a major leap forward in actionable longevity science - with the potential to reshape the future of medicine and public health for generations to come. About Matter Bio Matter Bio is a biotechnology company at the forefront of longevity science, committed to extending human healthspan by enhancing genomic resilience and unlocking the genetic keys to healthy aging. Our platform harnesses naturally occurring DNA stability variants and delivers them to human cells to dramatically enhance cellular longevity. When cancer is already present, Matter is delivering engineered bacteria to find and kill tumor cells and these efforts are now entering human clinical trials. Through partnerships with leading scientists and institutions, Matter Bio is laying the groundwork for the next generation of preventive healthcare solutions. For more information, please visit SOURCE: Matter Bio press release
