“Why do certain animals like sharks and crocodiles possess such strong immune systems that make them rarely fall ill or develop cancer? Could studying them provide valuable lessons for improving human health?”

Question

“Why do certain animals like sharks and crocodiles possess such strong immune systems that make them rarely fall ill or develop cancer? Could studying them provide valuable lessons for improving human health?”

In: Biology

Answer 1

Sharks and crocs have “molecular stability.” This means that the cells are very stable and don’t change easily. When cells in our bodies change in a bad way, it can sometimes lead to diseases like cancer. Yes this can be a powerful knowledge to unlock and is being studied.