Greenland sharks grow at a snail’s pace (less One centimeter per year, to be exact), but they can live for what feels like forever – at least compared to human lifespans. Arctic sharks can live for centuries with a 16-foot specimen Identified in 2016 At least 272 years old. This data makes old souls the longest living vertebrates known to science.
The reasons behind the extended lifespan of Greenland sharks are murky, but according to Direct scienceA recent study presented at the Society of Experimental Biology conference in July 2024 suggests that animal metabolism may hold a clue.
In short, Metabolism Enzymes are the process by which nutrients are converted into energy, which is used to build and repair tissues. It tends to Age slows down In most organisms, a reduction in energy production inhibits cell regeneration and repair and lowers cellular waste removal.
In terms of its metabolism, the Greenland shark is unlike any other species. Research authors They took tissue samples from 23 sharks and tested different enzymes from each to quantify their metabolic rates and responses to different temperatures. They then measured the sharks’ bodies to determine their age, revealing a lifespan of 60 to 200 years. There were no differences in enzyme activity across different age sharks, indicating that they do not age like most species. The study also suggests that Greenland sharks’ metabolisms do not decline over time, which may contribute to their longevity.
Researchers can agree that calculating the age of a shark is not easy. They usually study Bands A shark’s vertebrae measure its lifespan. However, Greenland sharks are more complex because their spines are too soft to form straps. Scientists had to get creative to determine their age. In 2016, experts learned that the life expectancy of the Greenland shark can be estimated Radiocarbon dating. This procedure measures carbon-14, a radioactive carbon material found in the eyes of each animal, including the sea creature. Historical events that caused a spike in carbon-14 levels, such as increased nuclear testing after World War II, help researchers approximate the age of the Greenland shark. Experts also learned that the age of a Greenland shark can be roughly estimated by examining it Body length.
There is currently no way to determine the exact age of sharks, but scientists are working to improve their research methods.
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