In this episode of Longevity by Design, zoologist Dr. Emma Teeling from University College Dublin shares insights into why bats live extraordinarily long and healthy lives despite their small size. A pioneer in bat genomics and evolutionary biology, Teeling discusses how studying bats’ DNA repair and immune systems could help humans unlock the secrets to longevity and disease resistance.

Key Points:

Bats are nature’s longevity outliers, thriving for decades thanks to remarkable DNA repair and immune adaptations. Their ability to control inflammation and coexist with viruses offers powerful clues to slowing human aging. Dr. Emma Teeling’s work reveals that understanding bats may one day help humans live longer, healthier lives.

• Curiosity and the Birth of a Scientist: Dr. Teeling describes her lifelong curiosity about nature, which led her from zoology to molecular genetics and ultimately to studying bat evolution and their unique biology.
• Bats Defy the Rules of Aging: Despite being small mammals, bats live up to 10 times longer than expected for their body size. Some species can live over 40 years — equivalent to 250 human years when scaled for body mass.
• Genetic Secrets Behind Longevity: Bats share many genes with humans but appear to have evolved superior DNA repair mechanisms, maintaining genome stability and avoiding age-related decline and cancer.
• The Cost of Flight and the Gift of Longevity: The energy demands of flight expose bats to high oxidative stress. Over time, they evolved exceptional cellular repair and anti-inflammatory systems to cope — adaptations that may incidentally slow aging.
• Immune Balance and Disease Resistance: Bats carry numerous viruses, including coronaviruses, yet rarely get sick. They maintain strong antiviral defenses while suppressing excessive inflammation — a model that could inspire new therapies for human immunity and aging.
• Hibernation and Cellular Rejuvenation: During hibernation, bats lower metabolism and even show telomere elongation, hinting at a rejuvenation process similar to resetting biological age.
• From Bat Biology to Human Health: Dr. Teeling believes mimicking bat strategies — such as improving DNA repair, balancing immune response, and reducing inflammation — could enhance human healthspan and resilience against aging and disease.