Scientists Argue That Human Genes Contain a Veiled Connection to Hibernation
Humans may one day be able to enter a hibernation-like state due to dormant genetic switches in their genome that resemble those controlling hibernation in animals. These switches, or regulatory DNA regions, control metabolic and neurological functions, and though "locked" in humans, they can theoretically be "unlocked" to induce hibernation-like physiology with implications for health and medicine.
In a groundbreaking study published on July 31, 2025, researchers from the University of Utah Health discovered these key genetic coordinators that regulate survival during extreme energy shortages. The findings, detailed in Discover Magazine, outline how certain DNA regions could influence metabolism, energy use, and physiological resilience under prolonged fasting.
The first study examined the fat mass and obesity (FTO) locus, the strongest known genetic risk factor for obesity in humans, which also exists in hibernating species. Researchers edited these DNA sequences into mice that do not naturally hibernate, resulting in changes in human metabolism-like regulation, shifts in body temperature control, altered weight management, and new foraging instincts.
If these hibernation-linked genetic switches could be harnessed, the implications for treating age-related diseases and extending healthy lifespan would be profound. The research suggests that humans might have the same genetic architecture for metabolic flexibility as hibernators, even if it currently lies dormant.
The second study focused on the hypothalamus, a brain region central to human metabolism. The findings highlight a genetic framework that may be inactive in people today but could, in the future, be studied further for potential applications in health, medicine, and biology.
The potential benefits of harnessing hibernation-like biology in humans are significant. For instance, understanding these mechanisms could lead to treatments for metabolic disorders like obesity and type 2 diabetes by mimicking hibernators’ ability to switch metabolic states and reverse insulin resistance. Additionally, hibernators prevent stroke-like brain damage during reperfusion when waking, offering insights for stroke and neurodegenerative disease therapies.
Unlocking these genetic control elements could also lead to novel interventions for obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer's, muscle atrophy, and stroke. However, practical application requires further understanding and careful genetic and clinical exploration.
In essence, no unique "hibernation gene" exists; rather, a complex network of gene regulators modulates thousands of genes to produce hibernation phenotypes. Evolution in hibernators may work by removing genomic "brakes" that restrict such profound metabolic adaptations, whereas humans still possess these brakes but with the basic toolkit preserved.
Ongoing research into these dormant genetic control elements holds promise for revolutionary medical advances. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of these genetic switches, we may one day be able to harness their power to improve human health and extend healthy lifespans.
