Whaling for the mechanisms of cancer resistance and long lifespans

Vincent J. Lynch

doi:10.1016/j.molcel.2025.12.028

Whaling for the mechanisms of cancer resistance and long lifespans

Vincent J. Lynch

Biological Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate

Abstract

Bowhead whales have the longest lifespan of all vertebrates, living over 200 years. The mechanisms responsible for their lifespan are mostly unknown. In a recent study in Nature , Firsanov et al. ¹ reveal that bowhead whales have evolved more efficient DNA-repair mechanisms.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	237-238
Number of pages	2
Journal	Molecular Cell
Volume	86
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2025.12.028
State	Published - Jan 22 2026

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title = "Whaling for the mechanisms of cancer resistance and long lifespans",

abstract = "Bowhead whales have the longest lifespan of all vertebrates, living over 200 years. The mechanisms responsible for their lifespan are mostly unknown. In a recent study in Nature , Firsanov et al. 1 reveal that bowhead whales have evolved more efficient DNA-repair mechanisms.",

author = "Lynch, \{Vincent J.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.",

year = "2026",

month = jan,

day = "22",

doi = "10.1016/j.molcel.2025.12.028",

language = "English",

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AU - Lynch, Vincent J.

PY - 2026/1/22

Y1 - 2026/1/22

N2 - Bowhead whales have the longest lifespan of all vertebrates, living over 200 years. The mechanisms responsible for their lifespan are mostly unknown. In a recent study in Nature , Firsanov et al. 1 reveal that bowhead whales have evolved more efficient DNA-repair mechanisms.

AB - Bowhead whales have the longest lifespan of all vertebrates, living over 200 years. The mechanisms responsible for their lifespan are mostly unknown. In a recent study in Nature , Firsanov et al. 1 reveal that bowhead whales have evolved more efficient DNA-repair mechanisms.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105027913922

U2 - 10.1016/j.molcel.2025.12.028

DO - 10.1016/j.molcel.2025.12.028

M3 - Comment/debate

C2 - 41576912

AN - SCOPUS:105027913922

SN - 1097-2765

VL - 86

SP - 237

EP - 238

JO - Molecular Cell

JF - Molecular Cell

IS - 2

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Whaling for the mechanisms of cancer resistance and long lifespans

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