Cancer is a genetic disease described by the uncontrollable division of cells. While some mutations that cause cancer are inherited, most result from mistakes during DNA replication. In humans and other living organisms, cells continue to copy their DNA throughout their adult life, with each cell division coming with the risk of developing cancer.
Peto's Paradox
Large organisms that live longer are more likely to experience more cell divisions than the smaller, short-lived ones. As a result, they have higher chances of accumulating mutations that can lead to cancer.
Models suggest that if large animals such as elephants and whales have comparable cancer risk per cell division as humans, they could not possibly exist or would die of cancer at a young age. However, it is clear that elephants and whales do exist, and none of them experience high rates of cancer. This phenomenon, also known as Peto's Paradox, has gained the attention of scientists studying the nature of cancer cells.
Elephant's Secret in Fighting Cancer
Modern advancements in science provide new insight into the role of elephants in understanding the mystery of cancer mitigation. The key is the connection between the TP53 gene marker and its protein product known as p53. This was the focus of the research study conducted by a team of scientists led by Professor Fritz Vollrath, Chairman of Save the Elephants.
Their investigation focuses on somatic cells forming a multicellular organism's body, organs, and tissues. Elephants are not only known for their large size, but they also have a higher number of somatic cell divisions. The selection of somatic cells was found to be fairly weak and slow due to the combination of healthy and potentially dangerous cells. On the other hand, the selection of sex cells is relatively stronger and faster and directly affects the survival of each single cell.
This is where testicle temperature comes into play. In mammals such as elephants, the production of healthy sperm requires that the testes must be several degrees cooler than the body temperature. This is why testicles descend into a scrotum to cool them as maturity approaches.
Surprisingly, elephants do not have the genes that trigger this descent. Because of this, their testicles remain inside their body, subjecting the sperm cells to higher temperatures. Elephants are also vulnerable to climatic challenges making their body temperatures rise to levels that are harmful to their metabolism and dangerous to producing healthy sperm.
The paradigm presented in this study suggests that the increase of TP53 genes among elephants might not have evolved to fight cancer but rather to support the stabilization of DNA in spermatogonia. This ensures that the body produces vigorous sperm and protects the germ line. On the other hand, the spread of p53 proteins provides protective benefits against damage and DNA mutations in somatic cells. It offers additional advantages of preventing cancer and aging, in which p53 is known to play a significant role.
The insight provided by this novel research offers an avenue for cancer experts as they are given valuable information about the cellular response to DNA damage among humans.
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