There’s no doubt that sharks are one of the most feared creatures on Earth, but they are also one of the most sophisticated and enduring ones. They are particularly good at healing themselves and resisting cancer, with some species even living to the ripe old age of 400. In an attempt to decode the animal’s incredible quirks, scientists have now sequenced the entire genome of the great white shark. Within the genome, the researchers found that natural selection had given a boost to genes involved in DNA repair, DNA damage response and DNA damage tolerance, which could be behind the animals’ resilience against cancer and other age-related diseases. Another finding showed that genes related to wound healing and blood clotting had been selected for and enriched, which goes a long way towards explaining how sharks can shake off even large wounds without too much trouble. The findings could potentially help find new treatments for cancer and wound healing in humans, and also improve the conservation efforts of these fascinating animals.
Sequencing shark DNA could lead to better treatments for cancer
More of Today's Solutions
More US states and cities are boosting minimum wages in 2026. What does it me...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As the federal minimum wage remains frozen at $7.25 an hour, unchanged since 2009, cities and states across ...
Read More3 organization hacks for Type B brains that actually work
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Scroll through any productivity blog or time-management book, and you’ll find a familiar formula: rigid routines, detailed planners, ...
Read MoreAn easy hack to counteract the harmful health effects of sitting all day
Humans are not designed to spend the entire day seated. Nonetheless, billions of us do it at least five days per week, as Western ...
Read MoreEnsuring no pet goes hungry: The rise of pet food banks in the UK
Pete Dolan, a cat owner, recalls the tremendous help he received from Animal Food Bank Support UK, a Facebook organization that coordinates volunteer community ...
Read More
