Bowhead whales might hold secrets on how to age gracefully

To learn the secret behind ageing gracefully, you may want to check out the bowhead whale, the majestic denizen of the Arctic waters that boasts a lifespan topping 200 years.

Scientists on Monday unveiled the genetic blueprint for the bowhead whale, a genome that is chock full of clues behind this creature's exceptional longevity and rather remarkable disease resistance.

Comparing its genome to other mammals, the scientists discovered differences in the whale's genes related to DNA repair, cell cycle, cancer and the ageing process that may help explain its lifespan and vitality.

"This is the biggest animal whose genome has been sequenced thus far and the first big whale to be sequenced," said University of Liverpool geneticist Joao Pedro de Magalhaes, who led the study published in the scientific journal Cell Reports.

"By identifying novel maintenance and repair mechanisms, we hope to learn what is the secret for living longer, healthier lives and may be able apply this knowledge to improve human health and preserve human life," Magalhaes added.

Bowhead whales, which live longer than any other mammal, are among earth's largest creatures. They reach up to 18 metres and are the second heaviest whale after the blue whale. They are mostly black, with the front part of their upturned lower jaw white. Bowhead whales are also filter feeders that eat huge amounts of zooplankton.