The Mystery of the Bowhead Whale's Longevity: The Impact of the DNA Repair Protein "CIRBP" in Bowhead Whales

The bowhead whale in the Arctic can live for nearly 200 years and has a low incidence of cancer. The protein "CIRBP," which aids in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks, has been highlighted as a potential secret behind this. According to a recent Nature paper and an explanation on Phys.org, the amount of CIRBP in whales is about 100 times that of other mammals. When introduced into human cells, it increases repair efficiency, and in fruit flies, it has been observed to extend lifespan. It has been suggested that CIRBP may increase in response to cold stimuli, leading to hypotheses about lifestyle interventions such as cold water baths, although its effectiveness in humans has not been established. The research demonstrates the mechanisms of cancer resistance and longevity as a strategy of "repairing rather than destroying cells."