• Question: Have scientists discovered someone or something immune to cancer?

    Asked by Lilybug005 to David, Eva, Kate, Nicholas, Rachel on 11 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Rachel McMullan

      Rachel McMullan answered on 11 Nov 2015:

      Hi
      The worms that I work with don’t get cancer because their cells only divide when they’re developing. Once they hatch only a very tiny number of cells divide. Cancer is uncontrolled cell division so without cell division you don’t get cancer.
      The most well known example of an animals that doesn’t get cancer is Naked mole rats though.

    • Photo: Nicholas Pearce

      Nicholas Pearce answered on 16 Nov 2015:

      Hello,

      The not so cute little things – naked mole rats:

      Axolotls, lobsters and elephants are all fairly resistant to cancer too!

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