Cancer is a complex group of diseases that has researchers baffled. Despite the advancements in technology and medicine, cancer still remains to be one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide.

Different researchers have tried to discover new ways of treating or curing the disease, but a discovery made by scientists from Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center could be the next big thing.

Who are the Great White Sharks?

Before we delve deeper into their biology, we must understand who the great white sharks are. Great white sharks are one of the most awe-inspiring creatures on the planet.

These carnivorous fish have graced the pages of popular media in everything from “Jaws” to Discovery Channel’s ” Shark Week .” They are one of the ocean’s most feared predators, known for their incredible speed and tremendous bite force.

Great White Sharks & Cancer

Although great white sharks seem to be the epitome of the perfect predator with no weaknesses, the recent discovery by the Nova Southeastern University research team suggests that these predators possess resistance against the disease that we still have no cure for – cancer.

The intriguing discovery began in 2014 when a research team from the university began studying the genetic makeup of the great white sharks with the aim of understanding their resistance against cancer.

In humans, cancer is caused by damage to the DNA of our cells, leading to mutations that cause them to replicate uncontrollably.

So far, shark DNA contains some clues about how they might be able to slow down the spread of cancer in their own bodies.

Sharks’ Unique Immune System

Great white sharks have long been known to possess strong immune systems. One of the ways sharks stay protected is through the presence of molecules known as squalamine, which helps regulate their immune systems and keep them healthy.

Squalamine is unique in that it can protect the immune system cells without killing them, unlike traditional chemotherapy treatments that not only target cancer cells but healthy ones as well.

Understanding the mechanisms behind these unique molecules could lead to the development of new treatments that more specifically target cancer cells without killing the surrounding healthy tissue.

Great White Sharks & DNA Repair

Another area of research that could prove beneficial in the fight against cancer involves the great white shark’s unique DNA.

The shark’s DNA contains many genes that are associated with repairing damaged DNA quickly, thus those genes can help prevent mutations from spreading out of control. These mechanisms in great white shark DNA could hold the key to unlocking new cancer therapies that can help prevent the spread of cancerous mutations in humans.

While more research needs to be done on the great white shark’s unique genome, there is hope that the findings will lead to the development of new cancer treatments that could benefit humans.

Conclusion

The discovery by the Nova Southeastern University research team opens a new frontier in the understanding of cancer.

It is interesting how such an apex predator as the great white shark could possess some of the mechanisms that could help fight a disease that has taken many from us. Further study of the great white shark’s unique immune system and DNA could lead to the development of new treatments that could change the way we fight cancer in humans.