The secrets of 200-year old whales that avoid cancer
Summary: The bowhead whale is a rare animal that lives for 200 years without cancer. This is the second part of a three-part series on telomeres and cancer. It’s also part of an extensive new study. Here is Part 1 of the series on telomere accuracy, and here is Part 3 of the series on telomeres in chronic diseases. This article was originally published on LongevityFacts.com under the title \”Top Journal Discovers the Key to These 200 Year-Old whales Who Avoid Cancer\”. Brady Hartman is the author.
This video provides a brief explanation of why whales do not get cancer.
Abraham Aviv (see bios for the authors here) and Jerry W. Shay report in a comprehensive article published just a few days ago by a respected journal of the Royal Society of the UK on the importance of telomeres. The authors explain the importance of telomeres in protecting against cancer. They also explain why whales are cancer-free despite having large numbers of cells, long life spans, and short telomeres.
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