Legacy Thread

[basserdan]

Sharks might hold the key to curing cancer

By Sean Dowling
Jan 31st 2017 4:06PM

Learning that you or a loved one has cancer is one of the scariest experiences in life. One way of battling the illness may be to turn to something else that's notoriously scary.

Turns out sharks may be the key to solving cancer in humans.

A new study of great white and hammerhead shark DNA shows that unique changes in their immunity genes may be tied to why their wounds heal so fast and why they rarely get cancer.

Open wounds on sharks and rays heal within hours thanks to immune systems fine-tuned over 400 million years.

Scientists think this ability may help them avoid getting cancer.

Two shark genes stood out to researchers from Cornell University and Nova Southeastern University and both of the genes have counterparts in humans.

However, there's one major difference. The genes promote cancer in humans.

In sharks, thanks to millions of years of evolution and natural selection, new research shows these genes show anti-tumor properties.

Scientists also found that compounds from shark tissue can slow down the growth of new blood vessels on tumors.

The idea that sharks rarely get cancer needs more scientific confirmation, but researchers are hopeful their findings could one day apply to human medicine.

Perhaps one day the idiom 'man's best friend' will be in reference to sharks.

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/01/31/s/21704370/