Insights into the Evolution of Longevity from the Bowhead Whale Genome

• Published in: Cell Reports
• Main Authors: Michael Keane, Jeremy Semeiks, Andrew E. Webb, Yang I. Li, Víctor Quesada, Thomas Craig, Lone Bruhn Madsen, Sipko van Dam, David Brawand, Patrícia I. Marques, Pawel Michalak, Lin Kang, Jong Bhak, Hyung-Soon Yim, Nick V. Grishin, Nynne Hjort Nielsen, Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen, Elias M. Oziolor, Cole W. Matson, George M. Church, Gary W. Stuart, John C. Patton, J. Craig George, Robert Suydam, Knud Larsen, Carlos López-Otín, Mary J. O’Connell, John W. Bickham, Bo Thomsen, João Pedro de Magalhães
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2015
• Subjects: Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Balaena mysticetus; bowhead whale
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2014.12.008; https://doaj.org/article/5cb71fcc599b4343858c3cc10a216423

The bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) is estimated to live over 200 years and is possibly the longest-living mammal. These animals should possess protective molecular adaptations relevant to age-related diseases, particularly cancer. Here, we report the sequencing and comparative analysis of the bowhead whale genome and two transcriptomes from different populations. Our analysis identifies genes under positive selection and bowhead-specific mutations in genes linked to cancer and aging. In addition, we identify gene gain and loss involving genes associated with DNA repair, cell-cycle regulation, cancer, and aging. Our results expand our understanding of the evolution of mammalian longevity and suggest possible players involved in adaptive genetic changes conferring cancer resistance. We also found potentially relevant changes in genes related to additional processes, including thermoregulation, sensory perception, dietary adaptations, and immune response. Our data are made available online (http://www.bowhead-whale.org) to facilitate research in this long-lived species.