Old whales may hold clue to longer life

To learn the secret of aging gracefully, you may want to check out the bowhead whale, the majestic denizen of Arctic waters that can live for more than 200 years.

On Monday, scientists unveiled the genetic blueprint for this whale, a genome full of clues behind the creature's exceptional longevity and remarkable resistance to disease.

Comparing it with 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 life span and vitality.