DNA from mole rat species may be key to fighting cancer and Alzheimers

Catherine Wheel · 10-13-2011, 06:27 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/nation...wfL_story.html

Naked mole rat genome may point way to long, healthy life

The upside is you live a ridiculously long and healthy life, can’t develop cancer, feel very little pain, never get lonely and have great skin right to the end.

The downside is you breathe stinky air, rarely go outside, tend to get cold, don’t see well, live in a monarchy and can’t count on having sex. (Also, you’re a naked mole rat.)

How this collection of traits and behaviors came to exist in a strange rodent found only in the Horn of Africa has been a mystery. Now biologists have a tool for unraveling it — and what they find may one day prove useful to human medicine.

A team of 36 scientists working on three continents published the genome Wednesday of the naked mole rat, the latest and perhaps most exotic organism to have its entire DNA sequence transcribed.

“It’s a treasure-trove for cancer and Alzheimer’s research. It’s got so much information that we can now go and mine to test all kinds of theories about aging and disease,” said Rochelle Buffenstein, a researcher at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio who participated in the project.

“Having the genome raises the possibility of finding treatments that may prevent cancer in people and possibly even extend life span,” said Vera Gorbunova, a cell biologist and mole rat researcher at the University of Rochester, who was not involved in the work.

rottenugly · 10-13-2011, 09:12 PM

Does this mean that mole rats can't get cancer? ...Ever? Because I know cats and other animals can get cancer...

Catherine Wheel · 10-13-2011, 10:08 PM

"But their most unusual features are extreme longevity and apparently complete resistance to developing cancer. A study published in 2009 found that naked mole rats had a molecular anticancer mechanism not present in mice or people "

bahnzah · 10-13-2011, 10:09 PM

they said this about sharks like 20 years ago. quit reposting popsci articles with misleading headlines.

Mooney · 10-13-2011, 11:09 PM

yeah, going by headlines that i've read in the past fifteen years we've essentially cured cancer around forty times so far.

Trotskilicious · 10-13-2011, 11:42 PM

and male pattern baldness but that's a real mystery

10-13-2011, 06:27 PM	#1
Catherine Wheel Banned Location: Washington, D.C. Posts: 6,310	DNA from mole rat species may be key to fighting cancer and Alzheimers http://www.washingtonpost.com/nation...wfL_story.html Naked mole rat genome may point way to long, healthy life The upside is you live a ridiculously long and healthy life, can’t develop cancer, feel very little pain, never get lonely and have great skin right to the end. The downside is you breathe stinky air, rarely go outside, tend to get cold, don’t see well, live in a monarchy and can’t count on having sex. (Also, you’re a naked mole rat.) How this collection of traits and behaviors came to exist in a strange rodent found only in the Horn of Africa has been a mystery. Now biologists have a tool for unraveling it — and what they find may one day prove useful to human medicine. A team of 36 scientists working on three continents published the genome Wednesday of the naked mole rat, the latest and perhaps most exotic organism to have its entire DNA sequence transcribed. “It’s a treasure-trove for cancer and Alzheimer’s research. It’s got so much information that we can now go and mine to test all kinds of theories about aging and disease,” said Rochelle Buffenstein, a researcher at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio who participated in the project. “Having the genome raises the possibility of finding treatments that may prevent cancer in people and possibly even extend life span,” said Vera Gorbunova, a cell biologist and mole rat researcher at the University of Rochester, who was not involved in the work.

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10-13-2011, 09:12 PM	#2
rottenugly Banned Location: its a gas Posts: 2,687	Does this mean that mole rats can't get cancer? ...Ever? Because I know cats and other animals can get cancer...

10-13-2011, 10:08 PM	#3
Catherine Wheel Banned Location: Washington, D.C. Posts: 6,310	"But their most unusual features are extreme longevity and apparently complete resistance to developing cancer. A study published in 2009 found that naked mole rats had a molecular anticancer mechanism not present in mice or people "

10-13-2011, 10:09 PM	#4
bahnzah Apocalyptic Poster Posts: 1,307	they said this about sharks like 20 years ago. quit reposting popsci articles with misleading headlines.

10-13-2011, 11:09 PM	#5
Mooney Socialphobic Location: halifax Posts: 14,812	yeah, going by headlines that i've read in the past fifteen years we've essentially cured cancer around forty times so far.

10-13-2011, 11:42 PM	#6
Trotskilicious Banned Location: I believe in the transcendental qualities of friendship. Posts: 39,439	and male pattern baldness but that's a real mystery