You might have come across the claims that lobsters are biologically immortal. But do you think it’s true? Not really, as this is partially an argument, as you will see in this post. This post will tell you the fact if you are wondering, and if you want an answer to the question, do lobsters die of old age.
To start with, lobsters don’t mate for entire life. So, where do social media channels get the information that lobsters can’t die of old age?
Understanding this, we all know that cells make up all living creatures on the Earth – from humans to lobsters. But cell replication is limited based upon telomeres (nucleotide sequences), present on the chromosomes’ end. Simply put, these nucleotide sequences prevent the DNA strands from coming undone and accidentally fusing with neighboring chromosomes.
In humans, cells can replicate around fifty to seventy times before the nucleotide sequences become too short. This ultimately leads to the cell no longer being able to reproduce correctly and die. Cells of lobsters work differently. Its body produces telomerase enzyme even into adulthood. The telomerase continuously repairs the cells’ telomeres and hence keeping it from becoming too short. Furthermore results in the cells being able to replicate consistently and indefinitely. This is the reason that most people and social media channels claim that lobsters are immortal.
How long do lobsters really live?
So how long do lobsters live before actually dying? It is not clear at all because when they molt, they molt their entire exoskeleton, including their gastric mill and the digestive tract. There are hardly any parts that are left.
We hope you have got the answer to your question – do lobsters die of old age? If you are still confused, let us clear for the last time that lobsters do die, and their lifespan is approximately 30 years.
