Discovery of "Cancer-Proof" Rodent Cells

anglico sends news of research out of the University of Rochester that has identified a gene that "cancer-proofs" cells in rodents. "Despite a 30-year lifespan that gives ample time for cells to grow cancerous, a small rodent species called a naked mole rat has never been found with tumors of any kind — and now biologists at the University of Rochester think they know why. The findings, presented in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show that the mole rat's cells express a gene called p16 that makes the cells 'claustrophobic,' stopping the cells' proliferation when too many of them crowd together, cutting off runaway growth before it can start. The effect of p16 is so pronounced that when researchers mutated the cells to induce a tumor, the cells' growth barely changed, whereas regular mouse cells became fully cancerous."

So what.

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm not worried. I always use poison or traps anyway. You see, its just to difficult to reliably give them cancer.

Now It All Makes Sense

[nz17]

Resistant, nay, impervious to cancer? So that's the sitch she was always talking about! [wikipedia.org]

Re:Naked mole rats are badasses.

[Anonymous Coward]

They also have a natural instinct to fight evil and be funky. [youtube.com]

Re:So what.

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, if we can just convince Big Tobacco that there's an untapped mole-rat market...

Language is defined by usage, not dictionaries

[Rix]

Or no longer present articles on perl.com.

Immortality?

[Anonymous Coward]

1. Set up a Gene bank with intact chromosomes from when your in your 20-30's.

2. Replace old you genes with young you genes?

3. Profit! (Immortality!)

Re:Language is defined by usage, not dictionaries

[psp]

I think you mean "the noobs"

It's noobii actually.

Re:Language is defined by usage, not dictionaries

[TheoMurpse]

I actually prefer to pluralize in accordance with the original Hebrew: Noobim.

Re:Based on the picture

[pinkushun]

You post on /. AND you don't want to resemble Yoda when you grow up? I call posting under false pretense! ;)

Move over Shark Cartalage

[arthurpaliden]

Now that this has made the news I expect that 'Mole Rat Extract' will soon be apearing in spam as the next curall for cancer. Of coruse 'Big Pharma' will be keeping it secret but you can buy it from our site for only $699.00 per dose.

Re:Naked mole rats are badasses.

[Anonymous Coward]

Any episode of KP would tell you that. Go Rufus!