Researchers break down DNA of world's largest mammals to discover how whales defy the cancer odds

Press/Media: ResearchAcademic

Description

Tollis led a team of scientists from Arizona State University, the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, the Center for Coastal Studies in Massachusetts and nine other institutions worldwide to study potential cancer suppression mechanisms in cetaceans, the mammalian group that includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. Their findings, which picked apart the genome of the humpback whale, as well as the genomes of nine other cetaceans, in order to determine how their cancer defenses are so effective, were published today in Molecular Biology and Evolution.

Period9-May-2019 → 10-May-2019

Media coverage

2

Media coverage

  • TitleHow whales defy the cancer odds: Good genes
    Degree of recognitionInternational
    Media name/outletScienceDaily
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    Date10/05/2019
    DescriptionResearchers break down DNA of world's largest mammals
    Scientists have studied potential cancer suppression mechanisms in cetaceans, the mammalian group that includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. Biologists picked apart the genome of the humpback whale, as well as the genomes of nine other cetaceans, in order to determine how their cancer defenses are so effective.
    Producer/AuthorArizona State University
    URLhttps://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190510091342.htm
    PersonsPer Palsboll
  • TitleResearchers break down DNA of world's largest mammals to discover how whales defy the cancer odds
    Degree of recognitionInternational
    Media name/outletPhys.org
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    Date09/05/2019
    DescriptionScientists know that age and weight are risk factors in the development of cancer. That should mean that whales, which include some of the largest and longest-lived animals on Earth, have an outsized risk of developing cancer. But they don't. Instead, they are less likely to develop or die of this enigmatic disease. The same is true of elephants and dinosaurs' living relatives, birds. Marc Tollis, an assistant professor in the School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems at Northern Arizona University, wants to know why.
    Producer/AuthorNorthern Arizona University
    URLhttps://phys.org/news/2019-05-dna-world-largest-mammals-whales.html
    PersonsPer Palsboll, Martine Bérubé