THE secret to eternal life could lie in a chip shop staple — rockfish.
The creature, which looks like a giant goldfish and tastes like cod, holds clues to genes that affect lifespan, scientists have found.
1
'Rock and chips' is a popular dish particularly in chippies in the North and Midlands Credit: Alamy
Rockfish can survive for more than 200 years, making them among the longest-lived animals on Earth. Experts believe their unique genetic make-up could help humans live longer, too.
Professor Peter Sudmant, of the University of California in Berkeley, said: “Humans live longer than most vertebrates, but rockfish can offer humans strategies for improvement.
“Genetic adaptations found in rockfish illustrate that strategies to improve DNA repair and control inflammation may improve health and extend lifespan.
There’s an opportunity？here？.？.？.？to think about how those same sorts of genes are acting in our own bodies.”
The study found rockfish have powerful genetic traits that -prevent inflammation, stem cell exhaustion and immune system degradation.
Boffins discovered there are 137 genes that extend the lifespan by making the fish bigger and more resilient to environmental changes.
Most read in The Sun
shock exit Eamonn Holmes quits This Morning after 15 years
VAN THE MAN Van Bronckhorst favourite for Rangers boss ahead of Martin, McInnes and Lampard
CASHING IN I strip nude so my kids can eat says Ulrika Jonsson, 54
Gossip
TOP BOY Man Utd make Leicester's Rodgers top choice to replace under-pressure Solskjaer
'SHE WANTS TO WIN' Meghan 'doesn't listen to detail' and 'goes overboard', biographer says
HORS BACKED Van Bronckhorst bookies favourite for Rangers as Swansea boss Martin linked
One gene, butyrophilin, suppresses the immune system as the body gets older and prevents “inflammaging”, which causes many side effects of ageing.
It is much stronger in the fish than in humans.
“Rock and chips” is a popular dish in Britain, available in many chippies — particularly in the North and Midlands.
Scottish chippy is defying physics with its new sweet treat - deep fried ice cream