Naked Mole Rat's Long Life Due To Cellular Garbage Men

The naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is a burrowing rodent native to parts of East Africa. It has a highly unusual set of physical traits that enables it to thrive in an otherwise harsh, underground environment, including a lack of pain sensation in its skin and a very low metabolism.

The naked mole rat is also of interest because it its extended lifespan of up to 28 years. A a new study from the University of Texas, USA, that could be due to differences in protein destroying machinery in their cells.