The Research on a Rodent that Never Gets Cancer

Fact: The Naked Mole Rat lives 7 times longer than the average mouse

Most mice live (on average) about four years. Researchers have been following another rodent, the naked mole rat or Heterocephalus glaber, that has a lifespan of roughly 30 years. The Native Africans call them "sand puppies" but the word 'puppy' conjures up visions of cuteness and the naked mole rats are anything but cute but they may be holding the key to longevity. The research project is studying the genome and genes to uncover aging and age-related diseases. This little puppy may be holding the secret to long-life.

It appears that these little hairless rodents who resemble a tiny walrus have the ability to ward off cancer with anti-tumor capabilities that have not been found in people, pets or other rodents. The mole rat also appears to lack any sensation to pain and can survive in the harshest of conditions along with an extremely low metabolic rate so that it requires the slightest amount of oxygen underground in their homes.

Most of the mole rats survive in communities under the Queen who is the only rat that breeds. She is the Top Rat. You can read more about the mole rat on the Smithsonian Zoological Website here.

According to the Liverpool Daily Post, "University of Liverpool are taking a profound interest in the rat because the species is resistant to cancer." You can read it here.

If a rat holds the key to conquering cancer, it can be as ugly as it wants.

Sources:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-20076985-247/researchers-sequence-cancer-resistant-rodents-dna/

http://www.eol.org/pages/326232

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/naked-mole-rat/

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/publications/zoogoer/2002/3/nakedmolerats.cfm

http://www.tgac.bbsrc.ac.uk/