Recently, researchers at the University of Rochester (in the US) published a study in the Nature magazine that cites hypotheses of how the organism of bats Avoid cancer. Analysis is fundamental because these flying mammals have an expectation of life up to 40 years.
The research found that numerous species of bats hold a convenient physiological mechanism: These animals create multiple copies of P53which is a kind of ‘suppressor‘of tumors.
In other words, The more copies of this gene exist, the greater the body’s ability to resist the development of cancerous tumorssince gene mutations in the P53 are linked to most of all kinds of human cancers. The study can be read in full here.
For those who are in a hurry:
- Scientists at the University of Rochester (in the US) published an important article in the journal Nature;
- The research investigates how the body of bats protects them from cancer development;
- Scientific findings can inspire, in the future, drug therapies are developed that Increase the protection of the human body against cancer.
For comparison title, humans have only one copy of the P53 gene; unlike elephants, which safeguard a stock of up to 20 copies, according to the Science Alert.
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Explaining simply, one of the functions that make the P53 gene useful in combating cancer is the fact that it suppresses cell reproduction (within specific criteria). Cancer, on the other hand, depends on uncontrolled cell reproduction to spread; then, If the P53 prevents this unbridled reproduction, it is much more difficult for cancer to develop.
However, excess P53 genes is not ideal either, as this would cause harm to the body. Therefore, bats have an important enzyme to complement this equation: the telomerase.
Telomerase acts, among other ways, balancing the power of the P53 gene in stopping cell reproduction: it allows cells to continue their proliferation process.
In this way, the body of bats comes into balance, as the P53 ensures that uncontrolled cell reproduction does not occur while telomerase allows the necessary and healthy cells to still proliferate in an appropriate amount. In all, the gene and the enzyme act in a partnership to regulate the action of each other.
Studying this theme is also important for the evolution of cancer treatments in humans: detailing this process of the body of bats can, in the future, serve for the development of DRUG THERAPIES that will slow or efficiently destroy cancer cells.
