When treated, the turtle cells quickly underwent apoptosis. In fact, the cells in all but one of the species did not respond to a treatment that was supposed to disrupt an enzyme called ligase, which is essential to the process of DNA replication.
In other words, the turtles' ligase continued to function properly. Whether this means these turtles are completely resistant to DNA-replication issues is yet to be determined, Neuman-Lee said.
But it's one possible answer for why turtles are so long-lived. JoAnna Wendel is a freelance science writer living in Portland, Oregon. She mainly covers Earth and planetary science but also loves the ocean, invertebrates, lichen and moss.
She graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in general sciences because she couldn't decide on her favorite area of science. Helena Island. Unofficially, there have been claims of older tortoises, including one believed to have been when it died in Researchers have not been able to pin down exactly what keeps them around for so long, but their slow-motion lifestyle may have something to do with it.
Tortoises were also hunted for their oil, which was used to power lamps. Today, non-native species that settlers introduced to the islands—including feral pigs, dogs, cats, rats, goats, and donkeys —are a persistent threat, preying on tortoise eggs and hatchlings and competing with giant tortoises for food.
In , scientists confirmed the discovery of a Fernandina giant tortoise Chelonoidis phantastica , a species previously thought to be extinct. The single female tortoise, found on its namesake Fernandina Island, has been taken to a breeding center. Researchers have also found tortoise tracks that could signal the presence of more C.
Tortoises are even slower than you might think: They travel at about 0. All rights reserved. Scientific Name: Chelonoidis.
Type: Reptiles. Diet: Herbivore. Size: Up to six feet. Weight: Up to pounds. Size relative to a 6-ft man:. Least Concern Extinct. Current Population Trend: Unknown. The study also showed age-related changes to the DNA of long-lived species are different Continuously under assault, alterations and damage to DNA can lead to many different health That DNA repair system, found in organisms including bacteria, fungi, plants, and ScienceDaily shares links with sites in the TrendMD network and earns revenue from third-party advertisers, where indicated.
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