{
  "id": 6828871,
  "title": "The secret to longer life may be hidden in bat DNA",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/the-secret-to-longer-life-may-be-hidden-in-bat-dna",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-12T00:25:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ScienceDaily",
    "slug": "sciencedaily",
    "url": "https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003852.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Some of the most promising clues to a long and healthy life may be found in the DNA of bats, which can live remarkably long lives compared to their body size. Juan Manuel Vazquez, while a graduate student at the University of Chicago, was fascinated by this idea but found little published genomic information about bats to help answer longevity questions. As a UC Berkeley postdoctoral fellow in 2020, Vazquez began searching Western U.S. for bat species to collect tissue samples. With the help of Berkeley undergraduates, he set up mist nets over streams, ponds, and rivers at night to capture and biopsy bats, releasing them afterwards. The research primarily focused on the genus Myotis, which includes species with exceptionally long lifespans. Myotis brandtii, a species banded in Europe and recaptured 50 years later, was one such example. A recent study in Nature presents the first analysis of eight Myotis genomes, revealing a strong connection between lifespan and immune function. Long-lived bats had higher levels of genes associated with fighting cancer. The findings suggest that longevity may depend partly on an immune system that remains highly effective against both infectious organisms and cancer. Vazquez also highlights the importance of studying aging and disease defense together, as bats have evolved to live long without succumbing to diseases. In laboratory experiments, Vazquez exposed bat cell cultures to toxic chemicals and observed their response. The longest-lived bat, the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), increased the activity of genes that promote cell death rather than producing DNA repair proteins, an unexpected outcome. This strategy, shared with another long-lived species, may represent a way animals prevent damaged cells from becoming dangerous. Understanding these strategies could provide valuable insights into longevity, as Vazquez and his colleagues aim to better understand the interplay between DNA damage and the immune system to promote healthy life spans.",
  "summary": "Long-lived bats appear to combine powerful immune defenses with unusual strategies for eliminating damaged cells, potentially helping them avoid cancer and disease for decades. Researchers hope these genetic tricks could eventually reveal new ways to protect human health during aging.",
  "key_points": [
    "Bats live unusually long lives for their size, sparking interest in their DNA for longevity clues.",
    "Juan Manuel Vazquez collected bat tissue samples in Western U.S. to study bat genomes."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Studying bat DNA reveals that a highly effective immune system, particularly one that combats cancer and infectious organisms, may be a key factor in achieving a long and healthy life.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ScienceDaily Health",
        "title": "The secret to longer life may be hidden in bat DNA",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/the-secret-to-longer-life-may-be-hidden-in-bat-dna-6829350",
        "published": "2026-09-12T00:25:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}