Elephant gene may help in fight against cancer
- 9 years ago
CHICAGO ? In a study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, scientists reported findings of a gene in elephants that may help in the fight against cancer.
Elephants, similar to humans, have lifespans of around 70 years or more, but they have 100 times more cells than humans and their cells rarely mutate into cancer. Only 4.8% of known elephant deaths are related to cancer, while for humans, cancer-related deaths are between 11% and 25%.
According to the Los Angeles Times, scientists have found that African elephants have 20 copies of a gene called TP53, which creates a protein that suppresses tumors. Humans, on the other hand, inherit only one TP53: one allele from each of their parents. If one of them is defective, cancer is certain to develop sooner or later.
When there is DNA damage, the gene churns out copies of its p53 protein and it either stops the cells from dividing, so the DNA can be repaired or destroy the affected cell, so it won't pass on potentially harmful mutations.
Dr Trevor Graham, a tumor biology specialist from the Barts Cancer Institute at Queen Mary University of London, told the LA Times, that reinforcing of the protection offered by TP53 in humans, would be enough to prevent human cells from becoming cancerous.
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Elephants, similar to humans, have lifespans of around 70 years or more, but they have 100 times more cells than humans and their cells rarely mutate into cancer. Only 4.8% of known elephant deaths are related to cancer, while for humans, cancer-related deaths are between 11% and 25%.
According to the Los Angeles Times, scientists have found that African elephants have 20 copies of a gene called TP53, which creates a protein that suppresses tumors. Humans, on the other hand, inherit only one TP53: one allele from each of their parents. If one of them is defective, cancer is certain to develop sooner or later.
When there is DNA damage, the gene churns out copies of its p53 protein and it either stops the cells from dividing, so the DNA can be repaired or destroy the affected cell, so it won't pass on potentially harmful mutations.
Dr Trevor Graham, a tumor biology specialist from the Barts Cancer Institute at Queen Mary University of London, told the LA Times, that reinforcing of the protection offered by TP53 in humans, would be enough to prevent human cells from becoming cancerous.
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Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US news, celebrity gossip, salacious scandals, dumb criminals and much more! Subscribe now for daily news animations that will knock your socks off.
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