Humans may have discovered the key to living a long and healthy life by studying a species of fish called the East African turquoise killifish. Despite having a lifespan of only four to six months, which is very short for animals, this fish shares similarities with humans in terms of aging. Experimental biologist Dr Itamar Harel will be opening a lab at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to research this fascinating creature. Harel explains that it’s the shortest-lived vertebrate that can still be grown in a lab. Yet despite its brief lifespan, its aging cycle overall bears a significant resemblance to our own; it’s like watching the human aging process, just sped up. Previous studies on short-lived organisms have been conducted, but the killifish is a vertebrate, making it a better comparison to humans. Harel has already used a gene-editing tool called CRISPR to analyze the fish’s health and aging process. By manipulating certain genes, Harel hopes to slow down and possibly reverse the aging process in humans. His current focus is on studying age-related diseases and finding ways to maintain good health as we grow older. The goal is not necessarily to extend lifespan, but to enhance the quality of life in old age.
Video of Dr Itamar Harel speaking about the science aging