Lobsters Are Biologically Immortal

Lobsters possess biological immortality, meaning they don't experience senescence (aging) like most animals. They produce an enzyme called telomerase throughout their lives, which repairs the protective caps on their chromosomes, preventing cellular aging. As lobsters age, they actually become more fertile and continue growing. They die not from old age but from disease, predation, or exhaustion from molting. The largest lobster on record was over 100 years old. However, as lobsters grow larger, molting becomes increasingly difficult and energy-intensive, which is often what eventually kills them rather than aging itself.