Humans may soon be able to live for 200 years without getting sick, like the world’s longest-living mammal – the bowhead whale.
Experts from the University of Rochester in New York are looking into how the mysterious sea creature repairs broken DNA and are hoping to one day nail the same hack in people.
They reckon taking the plunge in freezing cold water – a practice favoured by celebs like David Beckham and Lady Gaga – might hold the secret.
The team found that DNA repair is boosted by a protein called CIRBP, which is triggered by mega chilly temperatures.
Bowhead whales dwell in the Arctic’s bitter waters and produce 100 times more CIRBP than humans.
The researchers wrote in the journal Nature: “This strategy, which does not eliminate damaged cells but faithfully repairs them, may be contributing to the exceptional longevity and low cancer incidence in the bowhead whale.”
The eggheads found that bowhead whales have mastered fixing both strands of the DNA double helix.
It means they develop fewer mutations – blips which are responsible for illnesses like cancer which shorten our lifespan.
Lead Prof Vera Gorbunova said: “What we’re finding is that these kinds of repairs are very important for long life.
“The very first conclusion we can make is there is room for improvement in humans.
“People used to think we can’t improve DNA repair, that it’s already optimal, but the whale does it better than we do.”
Master of the cold water plunge Wim Hof famously says: “A cold shower a day keeps the doctor away”.
Model Naomi Campbell said in an interview that she regularly takes freezing cold dips to firm and rejuvenate her skin.
Hugh Jackman, Bear Grylls and Justin Bieber are also big fans of the therapy.
Credit: Daily Star
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