This animal can pause aging for 2 years! Its lifespan is limited to 1 year.
NEXTMIND
Recently, scientists have seen hope in preventing human aging from a tropical freshwater fish. According to The Guardian, scientists have discovered the 'African spiny bass' (pictured below) has a special ability: it can pause development, entering a state of embryonic dormancy – this characteristic is called 'anabiosis'.
In this special state, the embryo does not age. Genetic analysis shows that to maintain a frozen state, the embryo suppresses processes such as cell growth and organ development.
This means that the effects of time on cells and tissues are temporarily suspended.
Specifically, the spiny bass (pictured below) mainly lives in ponds in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, in the dry season, the embryos will pause development until the ponds are again filled with rain.
Geneticist Anne Brunet at Stanford University said, 'Nature has already found a way to stop the clock. The fish's special ability can help scientists find out how to treat diseases related to aging, and even how to stop aging.'
To put it more dramatically, this bass's natural lifespan is shortest 3 months, longest 1 year, but its embryo can pause development for 5 months to 2 years, or even longer than its own lifespan.
Brunet explained, 'If humans could do something similar, the lifespan of an 80-year-old could be extended to over 400 years.'
So, why does the bass have this extraordinary ability?
Scientists speculate that a gene called chromobox 7 inhibits genes related to metabolism, but activates those that are important for maintaining muscle and anabiosis.
Public information shows that the African spiny bass can reach a length of 6.5 cm, and it typically lives in the middle layer of the pond bottom.
6.5
