A New Clue to Human Aging
According to the latest research, the way that whales react to sunlight can bring new understanding of the human aging process. UV exposure causes darkening of skin of some whale species. It happens right in the same way as humans get a tan. Though, other whale species turn genes on and off to protect themselves from sun burn. As scientists think, the work based on this fact could lead to new anti-aging treatments for humans. The research was published in the Scientific Reports journal.
Several years ago marine biologists in Mexico have noticed an increasing number of whales which have blistered skin as a result of exposure to UV light. Afterwards the same sunburnt DNA was found in whales and in humans, which is linked to aging according to scientists. The researchers took skin samples from three different species of whales. It was done during their annual spring migration to the sunnier waters of the Gulf of California. The research lasted over a three-year period. As a result the scientists figured out that different species reacted differently to the increase in sunlight.
Blue whales are considered to be the biggest creatures ever to have lived on Earth. And they do respond to the Sun by increasing the amount of pigment in their skin, just like humans do. Prof Mark Birch-Machin from Newcastle University told BBC News, "When blue whales go on their holidays to the Gulf of California they get a tan the same way we do". He thinks that tan protects blue whales from sunburnt DNA. According to Prof Birch-Machin's opinion, exposure to ultra violet light can not only damage skin, but also harm DNA in mitochondria.
Sperm whales have a different approach to the sun. These mammals can spend up to six hours at a time on the surface of the ocean and have far greater exposure to UV light. Prof Birch-Machin said, "They are akin to people going for the lobster approach - so changes in pigment aren't going to help them very much as the UV is overwhelming the system." There are no changes in pigment of these whales. The sun triggers a stress response in the genes of these whales and it is very similar to our own protective mechanism against sun damage. Researcher Amy Bowman told that the first time evidence of genotoxic pathways being activated in the cells of the whales was discovered. She said, "This is similar to the damage response caused by free radicals in human skin which is our protective mechanism against sun damage."
The third species which the scientists examined were fin whales. It is deeply pigmented kind of whales. The animals were found to be more resistant to sun damage. They have the lowest prevalence of sunburn lesions. Seeing both changes in pigment and changes in genes, the scientists hope that the whales may shed some light on the human aging process. Prof Birch-Machin said, "The sunburnt DNA we find in whales is the same sunburnt DNA we find in humans and that is definitely linked to aging." He explained, "The study shows the interaction of systems that we can then examine further in human research, and that's got implications for anti-aging and skin cancer approaches." It is possible to borrow a lot from non-human systems in terms of anti-aging.
Several years ago marine biologists in Mexico have noticed an increasing number of whales which have blistered skin as a result of exposure to UV light. Afterwards the same sunburnt DNA was found in whales and in humans, which is linked to aging according to scientists. The researchers took skin samples from three different species of whales. It was done during their annual spring migration to the sunnier waters of the Gulf of California. The research lasted over a three-year period. As a result the scientists figured out that different species reacted differently to the increase in sunlight.
Blue whales are considered to be the biggest creatures ever to have lived on Earth. And they do respond to the Sun by increasing the amount of pigment in their skin, just like humans do. Prof Mark Birch-Machin from Newcastle University told BBC News, "When blue whales go on their holidays to the Gulf of California they get a tan the same way we do". He thinks that tan protects blue whales from sunburnt DNA. According to Prof Birch-Machin's opinion, exposure to ultra violet light can not only damage skin, but also harm DNA in mitochondria.
Sperm whales have a different approach to the sun. These mammals can spend up to six hours at a time on the surface of the ocean and have far greater exposure to UV light. Prof Birch-Machin said, "They are akin to people going for the lobster approach - so changes in pigment aren't going to help them very much as the UV is overwhelming the system." There are no changes in pigment of these whales. The sun triggers a stress response in the genes of these whales and it is very similar to our own protective mechanism against sun damage. Researcher Amy Bowman told that the first time evidence of genotoxic pathways being activated in the cells of the whales was discovered. She said, "This is similar to the damage response caused by free radicals in human skin which is our protective mechanism against sun damage."
The third species which the scientists examined were fin whales. It is deeply pigmented kind of whales. The animals were found to be more resistant to sun damage. They have the lowest prevalence of sunburn lesions. Seeing both changes in pigment and changes in genes, the scientists hope that the whales may shed some light on the human aging process. Prof Birch-Machin said, "The sunburnt DNA we find in whales is the same sunburnt DNA we find in humans and that is definitely linked to aging." He explained, "The study shows the interaction of systems that we can then examine further in human research, and that's got implications for anti-aging and skin cancer approaches." It is possible to borrow a lot from non-human systems in terms of anti-aging.