Do Animals Get Cancer

Do Elephants Get Cancer? Because elephants are so large, they have many cells in their body dividing all the time to grow and maintain their body mass; one would expect just by chance alone they would have to get cancer. What is the job the “guardian of genome? __By stopping cells with mutated or damaged DNA from dividing, p53 helps prevent the development of tumors. Because p53 is essential for regulating DNA repair and cell division, it has been nicknamed the "guardian of the genome." ______How many copies of the p53 gene do average humans, humans with Li Syndrome and elephants have? Fill in the table. Average Humans Humans with Li Syndrome Elephants Copies of p53 genes 73 % 20% Chances of developing cancer 25% 90% < 5% Apoptosis with stressors present 50% 10% 100% 20% What types of stressors did scientists use on elephant blood as part of the study? _researchers found that specific glucocorticoids, metabolites of stress hormones, are excreted in elephants' urine and faeces, and that their concentration there can similarly be used as indicators of stress. __ Using the table above, explain how having more p53 genes is advantageous in an elephant’s defense against cancer. __Understanding how different species like elephants evolved to suppress ... Cancer is caused by genetic changes, or DNA mutations, that allow cells to grow and ... lead to cancer, then cancer risk should increase with body size (greater ... have evolved to resist cancer by triggering apoptosis through p53 ____ Describe the relationship between DNA, mutations, apoptosis and cancer. Cells become cancerous after mutations accumulate in the various genes that control cell division. most cancer cells possess 60 or more mutations. Cancer cells become enlarged due to mutations and apoptosis eliminates unwanted cells, and sometimes cancer cells Can pass by the apoptosis checkpoint. ________________________________________________________________ Use the graph on the right to answer the following questions. Describe the relationship between cancer rates and the body mass of the animal. _Larger animals result from more cell divisions with more mutagenic exposure, Larger animals are expected to have higher frequencies of cancer, although Elephants, porpoises, and whales have incredibly low rates of .. The rates of cancer appear to be inversely proportional to animal body size, which scales inversely with specific metabolic rates of mammals. ____ Using what you know from all the information above, how do you think human cancer patients could potentially benefit from the knowledge of the elephants p53 gene? ___Getting rid of that cell can prevent a subsequent cancer." The team made the discovery by first inducing DNA damage in elephant cells and cells taken from smaller animals. The elephant cells died immediately, they observed. Then they tried blocking LIF6 protein expression, and the cells started to become cancerous _____ Do Naked Mole Rats (NMR) Get Cancer? Name ________________________________ While some of the mechanisms that underlie cancer resistance in small, long lived mammals have been identified, the mechanisms by which large bodied animals evolved enhanced cancer resistance are unknown. Naked mole rats (NMR) (Heterocephalus glaber), for example, which have very long lifespans for a small-bodied organism evolved cells with extremely sensitive contact inhibition. What happens to humans when oxygen drops from 20% to 5%? Then the person will pass out. What happens to NMR’s when oxygen drops to 0%? Without oxygen, the cells die and your organs stop functioning. What special proteins do diving animals have to maintain oxygen levels when diving? What is contact inhibition? _Contact inhibition is a process of arresting cell growth when cells come in contact with each other. As a result, normal cells stop proliferating when they form a monolayer in a culture dish. ___ When NMR cells lose their claustrophobia, how does this affect their chances of developing a tumor? __cancer cells develop and spread to submucosa and protrude the muscle layers. ... can take antibodies from someone else and inject it to the tumor cells, marks it ... Sometimes the mutation affects the telomeres. ___ The effect of p16 gene is so pronounced that when researchers purposely mutated the cells to induce a tumor, the cells' growth barely changed, whereas regular mouse cells became fully cancerous. Using the figure, compare contact inhibition between naked mole rats and humans. __A model comparing contact inhibition in naked mole-rat to mouse and human. Naked mole-rat cells have two tiers of contact inhibition: early contact inhibition mediated by p16 and regular contact inhibition mediated by p27. In contrast, human and mouse only have regular contact inhibition.___ What benefit can stopping cell proliferation have on the ability of the animal to become cancerous? __Cancer can result from abnormal proliferation of any of the different kinds of cells in ... Only malignant tumors are properly referred to as cancers, and it is their ability to Previous work that has sought to kill the cancerous cells as soon as they begin to grow. This often involved toxins which are given to the patient to kill the cancer, but which have negative side-effects on healthy cells. ______ Previous work has sought to kill the cancerous cells as soon as they begin to grow. This often involved toxins which are given to the patient to kill the cancer, but which have negative side-effects on healthy cells. How can human cancer patients potentially benefit from knowledge of the naked mole rat p16 gene? __Another gene, p16, provides the mole rats with a first line of defense, halting growth when cells first touch. This double whammy defense mechanism appears to help the mole rats stave off cancer. Humans have the p16 gene too, but it plays no known role in contact inhibition in our bodies ______ Do California Sea Lions Get Cancer? Science can benefit greatly from studying wild populations of animals. California Sea Lions (CSL) (Zalophus californianus) are large carnivorous mammals ranging along the west coast of North America from Baja California, Mexico in the south to British Columbia in the north. CSLs spend periods on land so they are more accessible as a study species than many other marine mammals. Approximately 1000 animals found dead along beaches each year are examined and sampled at specialized wildlife rehabilitation facilities, offering an opportunity for studying. What sex of sea lions are developing the cancer and which part of their body is it most commonly affecting? _ Sea lions are contracting and dying from cancer, at alarming rates in their uro/genital tracts, most often among the females. _ What factor do scientists believe is causing a higher rate of CSLs to develop cancer? __Age, weight, exposure to carcinogens, and genetics can increase how the risk factor could actually cause cancer. __ How are the deaths of the sea lions potentially beneficial to scientific studies of human cancer? _ It's 19 or so percent in this particular population of California sea lions which is very unusual for any mammal, It is critically important for scientist to understand what other risks there for humans and other animals._____ What are three potential contributing factors that may be leading to such high rates of cancer in this species? ___four main areas of potential etiological importance have been explored based on risk factors identified in other species and other types of cancer: hormone receptor expression, genetic factors, contaminant exposure and infectious disease. ____ Using the diagram, describe how pollutants in the water can have a similar impact on both sea lions and humans. ___Studies on other aquatic species have linked tumors to contaminants in highly industrialized regions. Pollution off the Pacific coast may also be weakening the sea lions’ immune systems. Some of the chemicals may be suppressing the animals' immune systems. This suggests that a virus is not the cause of their cancers. ____ In your own words, describe the relationship between pollutants, immune systems, viruses and cancer. __Polutants are harmful substances released into the environment, viruses The immune system is a network of cells and proteins that help fight off infection and viruses in your body. Pollutions are linked to cancers like lung cancer, many people who work in factories with a lot of smoke or just live in areas with a t of pollutants are bound to develop some sort of cancer. How can human cancer patients potentially benefit from the knowledge of what is causing cancer in sea lions? __We can potentially benefit from it because we know that the four main areas of potential etiological importance have been explored based on risk factors identified in other species and other types of cancer: hormone receptor expression, genetic factors, contaminant exposure and infectious disease.The deaths were mostly common in female seals. Do Tasmanian Devils Get Cancer? Tasmanian devils are the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world. They have a stocky and muscular build, black fur, pungent odor, extremely loud and disturbing screech, keen sense of smell, and ferocity when feeding. The Tasmanian devil's large head and neck allow it to generate among the strongest bites per unit body mass of any extant mammal land predator, and it is both a hunter and a scavenger. Although it usually is solitary, it sometimes eats with other devils and defecates in a communal location. How did the Tasmanian devil first develop the facial tumor disease? __Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) is a transmissible cancer that affects Tasmanian devils. The disease is spread by biting and causes the appearance of tumours on the face or inside the mouth of affected Tasmanian devils. The tumours often become very large and usually cause death of affected animals. _ Describe how the cancer is spread from one individual to another? __When cancer spreads, it's called metastasis. In metastasis, cancer cells break away from where they first formed, travel through the blood or lymph system, and form new tumors in other parts of the body. Cancer can spread to almost anywhere in the body. But it commonly moves into your bones, liver, or lungs. ___ How can analyzing the genome of a healthy population help save this species from extinction? ___the researchers then began an analysis of the genomic data from the two animals, and of the genetic characteristics of the tumor. ... For this reason, choosing the right individuals to represent the broadest genetic diversity possible is critical for successful species preservation. _____ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ In the diagram on the left, how does the Devil Facial Tumor Disease (FFTD) genome analysis differ from a typical genome? ___Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) is a fatal, transmissible malignancy ... Differences between strains are limited, reflecting the unusually stable nature of DFTD. ... Initial G-band analysis of DFTD tumour chromosomes [8] showed that ... DFTD does not share the overt genomic instability typical of many solid __ This cancer is not transmitted by a virus but from the transfer of living cancer cells physically implanted into each animal (ex. biting another animal) evading the immune system. If all of the tumors shared the same chromosomes, from where most likely did the original cancer stem? _From a person's ancestors, ( genetic divisions)or from environmental factors-( pollution, chemicals etc.)___ What happens if Killer T cells (a type of white blood cell that kills viruses) can’t detect a cancerous cell? __After a Killer T-cell finds and destroys an infected cell, this Helper T-cell message tells it to copy itself, making an army of Killer T-cells. Because only T-cells that can fight the invading virus are copied, your body saves energy and is still very good at killing the virus. ____How could studying T cells help save the Tasmanian devil from extinction? ___Vital fencing work to prevent the interaction from diseased populations to clean populations is paramount. Conservation Volunteers Australia has already helped build fences to protect disease-free populations at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, and is also helping restore essential habitat for this special species. ______How can human cancer patients potentially benefit from the knowledge of how Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease is transmitted? _DFTD is spread by the transfer of living cancer cells by biting. Devils bite each other frequently, particularly in fights over mates and food. To our knowledge, there is no virus involved in the spread of the disease, and direct contact between devils is necessary for the disease to spread. __ Describe 2 mechanisms that animals have evolved that enhance cancer resistance. 1._These include mechanisms of cancer resistance in the naked mole rat 2.engineer cancer resistance in humans will be necessary to improve .Animal lineages have evolved a diverse array of tumor suppressor mechanisms. ___ Describe 2 mechanisms in which animals have had an increased chance of developing cancer. 1.___ 1.Larger animals have more somatic cells that have the potential to accumulate mutations, thus statistically their risk of developing cancer is higher 2. To counteract this risk large-bodied species must evolve more efficient tumor suppressor mechanisms. A lot of cancer research focuses on animals that are prone to cancer. But scientists also think it's possible to learn strategies for preventing tumors by studying animals that are cancer-proof. _ A lot of cancer research focuses on animals that are prone to cancer. But scientists also think it's possible to learn strategies for preventing tumors by studying animals that are cancer-proof. Driving Question: How can human cancer patients potentially benefit from the study of different cancer rates in other animals? State your claim: _ The development of antibody treatments for cancer has also relied on animal research. Antibodies are molecules designed to recognise and target cancer cells, and early research in mice helped to find a way to produce large enough quantities of these molecules to be used to treat patients __ Cite the evidence (from the four descriptions above) that supports your claim:_ These animals probably encompass more than 90 percent of the animals used in medical research. Other cancer models include rabbits, dogs, cats, livestock, and fish.Cancer can cause depression and feelings of isolation. Another study found that cancer patients who spent time with a therapy dog prior to treatment reported improved emotional and social well-being, even while their physical well-being was in decline during ______ Explain your reasoning as to how your evidence supports your claim: _well Animals are used in research to help scientist understand the mechanisms that underpin cancer, such as the growth and spread of tumours, and to develop new ways of diagnosing, treating and preventing the disease. The work at the ICR mainly uses mice, which can grow tumours which mimic those of human cancer patients. ___ A "telomere" is a substance has no apparent reason for existing except to provide a kind of “blank leader” that protects the vital DNA code each time it makes a copy of itself. The amount of times the DNA in a normal cell can reproduce before this vital telomere is worn away is called the Hayflick limit. Using the diagram on the left, what happens to the telomeres every time the cell divides? Every time your cells divide the telomere shorten. What happens to the cell if there are no more telomeres? Without telomeres, important DNA would be lost every time a cell divides, Although your Dna is left undamaged. Comparing the diagram above for a normal cell to what you know about the rate of growth in cancer cells, how do you think telomeres in cancer cells differ from normal cells?___cells do not respond to signals from neighboring cells that "tell" them to stop growing, while normal cells do. ___ What would any potential advantages and/or disadvantages be if scientists could alter the amount of telomeres we contained on our chromosomes? _There would be disadvantages if scientists could alter the amount of telomeres, Too much telomerase can help confer immortality onto cancer cells and actually increase the likelihood of cancer, whereas too little telomerase can also increase cancer by depleting the healthy regenerative potential of the body. Without telormer activity, some cells would become in active meaning they will stop dividing and eventually die.___ Do Axolotls get Cancer? Name_________________________________ The axolotl is sometimes known as a Mexican salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum) or a Mexican walking fish even though it is not a fish. It is an amphibian. Some amphibians possess some capacity for regeneration, but the axolotl is one-of-a-kind. It can regenerate multiple structures like limbs, jaws, tail, spinal cord, skin and more without evidence of scarring throughout their lives. Axolotls can even receive transplanted organs from other individuals and accept them without rejection. What is the main factor that is driving axolotl populations to decrease? _ Their most recent work shows that the reduction in water quality is one of the main factors driving the axolotl to extinction in the wild. Another is the presence of large numbers of introduced carp and tilapia fish, which both compete ecologically with axolotls for food and resource, and also eat axolotl egg __ What is unique about the physical growth and the environment of the axolotl compared to other salamanders? ___ __Axolotl has the unique capability to regenerate different parts of its body in the case they are lost or damaged. __ _Describe how the regenerative properties of the axolotl “blow the competition out of the water”?___They can regenerate limps, skins, tails, jaw, its spine etc. _( it can grow back within a month.) _______ When the cells at an amputation sight function more like stem cells, what advantage does this have for the regrowth process?__Regenerative properties across vertebrate models of whole limb and digit tip regeneration after amputation. Amphibians, specifically urodele amphibians (newts and salamanders), possess more striking regenerative abilities, as they are able to regenerate entire limbs, regardless of the site of amputation. ___ Describe what “plug and play body parts” means?__ It means body parts and defining perfection. __ __How do scientists use glowing proteins and albino axolotls to study cancer? They managed to bring cancer cells back under control by reactivating the cells' cancer suppressor genes using an extract from axolotl oocytes. The scientists say the discovery could form a powerful new technology platform for the treatment of a variety of cancers. axolotls have the ability to completely regenerate an entire limb when lost. Scientist use bilomisninst to see the insides of axolotls ( this can help with cancer because they can see how they regenerate etc…)_ _ Use the diagram on the left to describe the function of human stem cells? ____ Stem cells provide new cells for the body as it grows, and replace specialised cells that are damaged or lost.It shows how stem cells are transferred.The iamhe show the stem cells already divide and the arrows soe them moving over and changing to take the place of the old cells ____ How do human stem cells compare to the axolotl cells responsible for regeneration? __ _The cells that make up the blastema are thought to be bone, cartilage, ... (lose their identity) to become similar to stem cells, which are cells that can . a price; and new discoveries deserve proper respect and responsible use The capacity of human regeneration as we know it now, is limited. In both humans and axolotls, TGF-β1 is involved in cell differentiation and proliferation, while p53 is infamous as being mutated in over 50 percent of all human cancers. Experiments with p53 and TGF-β1 in axolotls showed that both TGF-β1 and p53 appear to be essential for limb regeneration. Researchers working on limb regeneration hope the mechanism for regeneration from the axolotl can eventually be transferred into another species, as the axolotl is over 1,000 times more resistant to cancer than mammals. __ How can human cancer patients potentially benefit from the knowledge of studying regenerative properties in Axolotls? __learning from the axolotl Macrophages, which are cells that serve a critical role in the inflammatory response after injury, were previously connected to regeneration. In fact, injecting a drug to get rid of macrophages in an axolotl's limb before amputation leads to the accumulation of scar tissue instead of regrowth ___