In this episode, host Dr. Buck Joffrey interviews Dr. Vera Gorbunova, a leading biologist and co-director of the Rochester Aging Research Center. Known for her groundbreaking work on species with exceptional longevity, Dr. Gorbunova explores how comparing humans with long-lived animals like naked mole rats and bowhead whales can unlock new strategies to extend human healthspan and lifespan.

Key Points:

Dr. Gorbunova’s research highlights how nature has already evolved powerful longevity tools—and that understanding these biological systems could help us emulate them in humans. They explore how mechanisms like DNA repair, transposable elements, epigenetics, and mitochondrial function shape ageing.

• Nature’s Longevity Blueprints: Dr. Gorbunova uses comparative biology to study species that naturally live far longer than expected. Animals like naked mole rats and bowhead whales exhibit biological adaptations that could hold clues for extending human life without compromising health.
• Gene Transfer from Naked Mole Rats Shows Promise: By transferring a gene responsible for producing unique hyaluronic acid into mice, her team observed reduced inflammation, improved health, and longer lifespans—demonstrating that genetic insights from long-lived species may translate into real interventions.
• DNA Repair and “Jumping Genes” Are Key to Ageing: Long-lived animals have more robust DNA repair systems and better suppression of transposable elements (“jumping genes”), which can otherwise trigger chronic inflammation as we age. A key player in this defence is a protein called SIRT6.
• SIRT6- A Super-Enzyme in Longevity: SIRT6, found to be more active in long-lived species, helps maintain genomic stability and silence harmful genetic elements. Activating SIRT6 may be a promising anti-ageing strategy—possibly more effective than increasing its quantity alone.
• From Seaweed to Science: Dr. Gorbunova’s team is exploring fucoidan, a compound found in brown algae common in Japanese and Korean diets. It robustly activates SIRT6 and has already been shown to extend lifespan in mice, offering a potential natural longevity supplement.