To learn the secret behind aging gracefully, you may want to check out the bowhead whale, the majestic denizen of the Arctic waters that boasts a lifespan topping 200 years. Scientists on Monday unveiled the genetic blueprint for the bowhead whale, a genome chock full of clues behind this creature's exceptional longevity and remarkable disease resistance. Comparing its genome to other mammals, the scientists discovered differences in the whale's genes related to DNA repair, cell cycle, cancer and the aging process that may help explain its lifespan and vitality.

A whale of a story on how to age gracefully. (2015, January 7). Malaya, p. B5.