News Health & Medicine

A resurrected gene may protect elephants from cancer

LIF6 instructs damaged cells to self-destruct before the disease has a chance to take hold

elephants

SECRET WEAPON  Elephants have some unique defenses against cancer, including a once-dormant gene that plays a role in killing damaged cells before they have a chance to turn cancerous.

matthieu Gallet/Shutterstock

By Aimee Cunningham

- More than 2 years ago

Elephants rarely succumb to cancer. That’s surprising given how large the animals grow and how long they can live, which should provide more opportunities for cells to morph into cancer cells.