Scientists are convinced they have found the secret to a longer life in the naked mole rat.
Naked mole rats could help humans live longer
The odd-looking rodents may help humans to live longer as they have a gene that gives them resistance to age-related diseases.
The gene has been successfully transferred to mice and paves the way for similar treatments on human beings.
Naked mole rats live 10 times longer than other rodents thanks to the unique HAS2 gene and remain free of brain and heart diseases, arthritis and cancer.
Mice injected with the gene also had better health and lived 4.4 per cent longer on average.
Dr. Vera Gorbunova, of Rochester University in New York, said: "Our study provides proof that unique longevity mechanisms that evolved in long-lived mammalian species can be exported to improve the life-span of other mammals. Our goal is to transfer this to humans."