Cancer and virus-free: Bats' longevity genes could hold clues for human health

Bats are the longest-lived mammals for their size and have the ability to adapt to viruses and boost their defences. Scientists are now trying to see whether humans can learn anything from bats’ ability to resist viruses and even prevent cancer. A new study published in the journal Nature looked at what these animals can teach about longevity and fighting disease. The findings reveal that the bats' ability to slow ageing and tolerate viruses is genetically linked, suggesting that the same biological 'tricks' protect them from both infections and the decay of old age “Bats have evolved this incredible fitness capacity, this incredible ability to deal with disease and this incredible ability to be able to prevent cancer,” said Juan Manuel Vazquez, author of the study at the University of California, Berkeley.