Genome‐Wide <scp>DNA</scp> Methylation Patterns Predict Age in the Zebra Shark ( <i>Stegostoma tigrinum</i> ) and Provide Insight Into the Evolution of Vertebrate Aging

Epigenomic changes are a hallmark of aging, and DNA methylation (DNAm) has emerged as the most reliable molecular marker of an individual's age. Genome-wide patterns of age-associated hypo- and hypermethylation have been applied to generate predictive models (i.e., "epigenetic clocks") capable of estimating chronological age in an increasingly diverse set of species including many mammals, a few birds, a reptile, and several bony fishes. Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) are underrepresented in comparative investigations of epigenetic aging despite exhibiting exceptional life history variation, occupying a key basal position in the vertebrate phylogeny, and encompassing a large proportion of threatened species lacking accurate, non-lethal age determination methods. Here, we characterize epigenome-wide aging signals in the zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum), a long-lived elasmobranch of conservation concern, from whole-genome enzymatic methyl-sequencing of whole blood. Using a cohort of 51 known-age aquarium-bred individuals, we develop several epigenetic clock models capable of predicting chronological age with a median absolute error of 1.03-1.99 years (3.32%-6.42% of lifespan) based on the methylation status of as few as ten cytosines. We further apply our models to 19 individuals of unknown age originating from the wild. By profiling the broader age-associated methylome we demonstrate that these patterns not only predict age with high accuracy but also exhibit striking similarities in their genomic distributions to those observed in mammals pointing to conservation of the processes underlying epigenetic aging across vertebrates.

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Journal
Molecular Ecology
Published
2026-04-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.70326
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
11.47

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article

Genome‐Wide DNA Methylation Patterns Predict Age in the Zebra Shark ( Stegostoma tigrinum ) and Provide Insight Into the Evolution of Vertebrate Aging

Benjamin B. Parrott, Alfonso Lopez, Samantha L. Bock, Javier Almunia et al.
1 citations
Molecular Ecology
Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
11.47
article

Genome‐Wide DNA Methylation Patterns Predict Age in the Zebra Shark ( Stegostoma tigrinum ) and Provide Insight Into the Evolution of Vertebrate Aging

Benjamin B. Parrott, Alfonso Lopez, Samantha L. Bock, Javier Almunia, Jennifer T. Wyffels, Kady Lyons, Ellen M. Leever, Anne M. Bronikowski, Gisele Montano, Nienke Klerks, Mike Stafford, Joe OKAMOTO, Gavin J. P. Naylor, Kate E. Archibald, Lise Watson, Taylor Hartl, Dan Peterson, Jay Hemdal, Lance Adams, Chris Spaulding, Kayla Leyden, Adrienne Rowland, Lei Yang, Savannah Vasey, Aaron Jeskie
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Epigenomic changes are a hallmark of aging, and DNA methylation (DNAm) has emerged as the most reliable molecular marker of an individual's age. Genome-wide patterns of age-associated hypo- and hypermethylation have been applied to generate predictive models (i.e., "epigenetic clocks") capable of estimating chronological age in an increasingly diverse set of species including many mammals, a few birds, a reptile, and several bony fishes. Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) are underrepresented in comparative investigations of epigenetic aging despite exhibiting exceptional life history variation, occupying a key basal position in the vertebrate phylogeny, and encompassing a large proportion of threatened species lacking accurate, non-lethal age determination methods. Here, we characterize epigenome-wide aging signals in the zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum), a long-lived elasmobranch of conservation concern, from whole-genome enzymatic methyl-sequencing of whole blood. Using a cohort of 51 known-age aquarium-bred individuals, we develop several epigenetic clock models capable of predicting chronological age with a median absolute error of 1.03-1.99 years (3.32%-6.42% of lifespan) based on the methylation status of as few as ten cytosines. We further apply our models to 19 individuals of unknown age originating from the wild. By profiling the broader age-associated methylome we demonstrate that these patterns not only predict age with high accuracy but also exhibit striking similarities in their genomic distributions to those observed in mammals pointing to conservation of the processes underlying epigenetic aging across vertebrates.

Molecular EcologyVol. 35(7)
SeaWorld Entertainment (US), Biotechnology Institute (US), Florida Museum of Natural History (US), University of Nevada, Las Vegas (US), University of Georgia (US), Universidade Politécnica de Lisboa (PT), Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (US), Savannah River National Laboratory (US), Shedd Aquarium (US), Minnesota Zoo (US), Aquarium of the Pacific (US), Florida Aquarium (US), Okinawa Churashima Foundation (JP), Seacoast Science (United States) (US), Fundación A LA PAR (ES), National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (TW), J.M. Burgerscentrum (NL), North Carolina Aquarium (US), Sengkang General Hospital (SG), Centre for Conservation and Research (LK), University of Missouri–Kansas City (US), University of Delaware (US), Michigan State University (US)
National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
11.47
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