Find the key of immortality

An international team of researchers analyzed the bat genome - the animal that holds the secret of the entire animal world.

Usually a species depends heavily on its size and small organisms have a very short life cycle. That's not true for mouse ears . Although the body is only 1/648 human, they live for at least 20-30 years.

The oldest rat ear is recorded as 41 years old. In particular, they hardly age during their lifetime.

The oldest rat ear is recorded as 41 years old.

Through their genome analysis, the team discovered the key in telomeres - a structure that humans also own. Telomeres are the tip located at the end of the DNA segment to protect the chromosome from damage. It was shortened every time the cell cloned. When it is so short that it is no longer possible to protect the chromosome, the cell gets older and no longer works effectively.

Many human studies have previously demonstrated that the effects of slow telomeres, such as childbirth in women, will help people slow aging.

Bats have a special gene that makes it able to repair telomeres themselves. The bats' telomere is extremely slow and makes them immortal compared to other relatives of the same size.

Emma Teeling, from University College Dublin, said the bat may have found a way to prolong the chromosome without causing cancer. The team will need more time to clearly explain this hidden mechanism as well as use it for higher studies, such as finding ways to apply it to protecting human health.

The study is published in the Science Advances journal.