Can a whale make you younger?

According to researchers, the many ways in which whales react to sunshine can reveal a great deal of information regarding the human-ageing process.

Several species of whales become overly exposed to Ultra-Violet exposure and start to turn darker, similar to humans becoming tan from additional exposure to sunlight. Other species are known to react by turning their genes on and off to protect themselves from the powerful rays of the sun. This on-going work is said to have the potential to lead to anti ageing treatments in people.

Marine Biologists from Mexico have recently become aware of an escalating number of whales swimming in the area and showing signs of blistering due to exposure to UV sunlight.

“The sun-burnt DNA we find in whales is the same sun-burnt DNA we find in humans and that is definitely linked to aging. Professor Mark Birch, Machin of Newcastle University.

As whales made their way towards the warmer waters in the Gulf of California during their spring migration, researchers took routine samples from an assortment of 3 separate whales’ species during the course of a 3 year time period. Later, scientists found in their results that different species of whale react differently to increased amounts of sunlight.

Warmer Blue:

Blue Whales are the most enormous creatures to have ever existed on our planet, yet they react in the same manner as humans by producing and increasing the quantity of pigment in the skin.

“When Blue Whales go on holiday to the Gulf of California, they get a tan the same way we do.” Professor Mark Birch, Machin of Newcastle University stated to the BBC News. He went on to say that “That tan protects Blue Whales from sun-burnt DNA.”

Scientists have implemented modified arrows and crossbows to remove skin biopsies from the Blue Whales off the coast of the Gulf of California. As Professor Mark Machin has stated, “exposure to UV light can cause damage to not only the skin, but it can injure the DNA in the mitochondria,” which are considered the cell’s battery packs.

The Blue Whale’s annual migratory journeys may be connected to their ability to produce greater amounts of pigments. This is due to the increased duration of sunlight the Blue Whales experience when migrating to higher and lower latitudes.

Sperm Whales have an entirely unique way of dealing with the affects of the sun, these whales can handle a much greater levels of UV sunlight, and they have been known to spend 6 hours or more on the surface of the water. Instead of experiencing changes on their pigment, the sunlight triggers a reaction in the whale’s skin cells” Stated research scientist, Amy Bowman.

Scientists and research continue to say that further research is required in order to learn if the sun-burn the whales experience results in skin cancer. Scientists are also working to develop an early-warning system for early detection in these wonderful creatures.

 

Hear Mating Calls of the Blue Whale:

As stated by Professor Mark Birch, “Whales are akin to people going for the lobster approach; as UV overwhelms the system; changes in pigment aren’t going to help the whales much.”

 

Fins Getting Better:

Fin Whales were the third species of whale that the scientists examined. These creatures were found to be extremely resistant to SUV damage; with deeply pigmented skin levels, they demonstrated the lowest levels of sunburn lesions or other damage caused by the sun.

 

Studies have shown the interaction of systems has implications for anti-ageing and skin cancer treatment possibilities in humans, and that it proves to be extremely interesting to pharmaceutical companies as well.

 

By shedding some additional light on the subject of skin pigment changes in genes and through further study, scientists and researchers remain hopeful that the whales will offer more information into the ageing process of humans.