Long-lived parrots

Analysis of the genome of parrots revealed the reasons for their longevity

Alexey Yevglevsky, Naked Science

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Oregon Health and Science University conducted a genetic analysis of a parrot belonging to the species blue–fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva), and compared its material with the DNA of 30 other bird species. They have isolated genes that may be the reason for the longevity of these birds. The work was published in the journal Current Biology (Wirthlin et al., Parrot Genomes and the Evolution of Increased Longevity and Cognition).

Postdoc Morgan Wirthlin, who participated in the study, said that some parrots are able to live up to 90 years in captivity. According to her, this time is comparable to several centuries for a person. She and her colleagues wanted to find out the reason for such a life expectancy.

With the help of genetic analysis, they found structures unique to the parrot. Firstly, genes whose protein products stimulate telomerase activity. Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase enzyme whose activity is aimed at lengthening or preserving the current state of telomeres – the end sections of chromosomes that decrease with each cell division. Telomeres determine the number of cell divisions before the cell dies. The effect of aging of the body is associated with this phenomenon. With the possible replenishment of telomeres, the cellular structure can become immortal.

Secondly, they discovered a mechanism that regulates the life cycle of cells. In their opinion, its parallel evolution with genes activating telomerase allowed birds to avoid the development of cancer, which is possible in the absence of control.

Thirdly, they identified paralogs unique to this parrot species (one of the genes that arose during the duplication of the original gene in the case of a chromosomal mutation). Scientists associated them with human genes that are associated with cognitive abilities, seeing in this signs of convergent evolution.

Morgan Virtlin hopes that subsequent, more detailed studies will allow the team to uncover the root causes of the parrots' speech-related abilities.

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