The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. Life Sciences
  3. Physiology & Medicine
  4. Are There Animals That Don't Get Cancer ?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Are There Animals That Don't Get Cancer ?

  • 4 Replies
  • 16524 Views
  • 0 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline neilep (OP)

  • Withdrawnmist
  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 21211
  • Activity:
    1%
  • Thanked: 119 times
Are There Animals That Don't Get Cancer ?
« on: 03/10/2007 02:26:53 »
I was wondering if there are any creatures that do not get cancer at all ?

If so, have their particular biology been investigated as to why ?
Logged
Men are the same as Women, just inside out !
 



another_someone

  • Guest
Are There Animals That Don't Get Cancer ?
« Reply #1 on: 03/10/2007 02:33:40 »
I may be wrong, but I had some vague recollection that sharks did not get cancer.

I have no idea about insects (it would be difficult to imagine how a cancerous growth would grow inside an insect or arachnid).
Logged
 

Offline showmen

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • 21
  • Activity:
    0%
Are There Animals That Don't Get Cancer ?
« Reply #2 on: 03/10/2007 14:23:17 »
sharks can get cancer but are better equipped to deal with it that us. I'm taking that from the following page:

http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/topics/p_bite_on_cancer.htm [nofollow]
Logged
 

Offline Bored chemist

  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *******
  • 31101
  • Activity:
    11.5%
  • Thanked: 1291 times
Are There Animals That Don't Get Cancer ?
« Reply #3 on: 03/10/2007 20:06:23 »
Dead animals don't get cancer. I rather suspect they are the only ones.
Logged
Please disregard all previous signatures.
 

Offline MayoFlyFarmer

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 887
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 7 times
    • http://www.myspace.com/wiguyinmn
Are There Animals That Don't Get Cancer ?
« Reply #4 on: 03/10/2007 23:59:39 »
actually, cancer is much more rare in almost all species compared to humans simply due to life span.  there are very few animals on earth that live anywhere near as long as we do, and since chances of cancers increase dramatically with age, it makes sense that an animal like a mouse that lives at maximum a couple years, doesn't really have to worry about it like a human who lives to be 80 does.  for this reason, i'm pretty sure that cancer is pretty much absent in the insect kingdom. 

the molecular mechanisms that govern tumorigenisis apply to pretty much all living things, so in a lab setting we are able to mutate animals  that ordinarilly wouldn't live long enough to get cancer so that the process speeds up and they do.  i've actually met the reseracher who was the first to be able to generate tumors in fruit-flies.  until he did it, people didn't think it would be able to happen; even under genetically modified lab conditions.
Logged
How much CAML do you have in your toes?
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags:
 
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 0.353 seconds with 40 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.