Scientists have discovered the secret of longevity of tropical butterflies of the genus heliconium
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- Scientists have discovered the secret of longevity of tropical butterflies of the genus heliconium
Tropical butterflies of the genus Heliconius have evolved a unique mechanism for slowing down the aging process, which allows them to maintain physical fitness throughout almost their entire life cycle. This was reported by Science Daily on June 22.
According to the study, representatives of Heliconius, living in the rainforests of Central and South America, are among the longest-lived butterflies in the world. While most related species live for only a few weeks, individual Heliconius hewitsoni individuals reach the age of 348 days.
Jessica Foley, lead author of the study from the University of Bristol's School of Biological Sciences
Insects, as the most species-rich class of animals, are known for their extraordinary morphological and ecological diversity. They also show extreme differences in life expectancy: the maximum life expectancy varies from a few days in adult mayflies to several decades in the reproductive castes of some ants and termites. The difference between mayflies and the reproductive castes of some ants is about 5,000 times, while in mammals this figure does not exceed 100 times.
Scientists in collaboration with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama conducted a series of tests, including measurements of wing grip strength. It turned out that elderly individuals of the Heliconius hecale species retain muscle strength at the level of young insects. On the contrary, their close relatives Dryas iulia show a clear physical decline with age.
Biologists cite the rare ability of these butterflies to feed on pollen in adulthood as one of the reasons for longevity, whereas most other species consume only nectar. Experiments have shown that feeding on pollen helps insects maintain body weight and muscle activity. However, even with the exclusion of pollen from the diet, Heliconius live significantly longer than their relatives, which indicates the presence of genetic and evolutionary adaptations to longevity.
Jessica Foley, lead author of the study from the University of Bristol's School of Biological Sciences
By comparing long-lived butterflies of the genus Heliconius with their short-lived relatives, we get a natural evolutionary experiment that can help reveal how life expectancy increases, making them a very promising new model for research on the biology of aging and longevity.
According to the authors of the study, these insects can become an important biological model for studying healthy aging and the body's defense mechanisms against age-related wear. In the course of the work, the scientists used data from butterfly homes, the results of tagging and recapturing individuals in the wild, as well as controlled experiments in insectories.
On May 24, Science Daily reported on the similarity of feline oncogenes to human disease. According to publications, FBXW7 is the most frequently mutated gene in breast tumors in cats: its changes were detected in more than half of the studied samples. The scientists emphasized that in breast cancer in women, mutations of the same gene are associated with an unfavorable prognosis in the same way as in animals.
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