Post #47 How Do They Live up to 500 yrs.?

I am not a professional biologist; the following includes some of my own beginner thoughts/conclusions which I am happy to share after some of my internet research.

I write a little here about the Greenland sharks. A biological curiosity. Supposedly:

E.g. recently a specimen of Greenland shark was identified as estimated age up to ~500 years old. I am very intrigued to see what we might we learn about longevity from the scientists now studying them.

Some researchers are currently trying to decipher the longevity keys/secrets of these particular sharks, which are believed to never migrate.

They stay in the cold Northern (Arctic & North Atlantic Ocean) waters year round, dwelling at fairly extreme depths. Although the very cold water may slow their metabolism somewhat, there are other species (fish) that also remain in these waters that only live e.g. for 20 years. So it is not the cold water alone that creates their long life.

Recently, researchers may have discovered a major key to their startling longevity. A never-varying metabolism, unlike most other animals on Earth. So that they don’t show traditional signs of aging!

Just imagine if we could learn how these sharks’ bodies do that.

& Researching scientist thinks, for one thing: if we figure out how they “seem to be so resilient to age related diseases [e.g.]  cardiac disease, we may be able to improve quality of life” e.g. for elderly humans.