Found in Translation: Sharks could provide hope, if the killing ends The dorsal fin of a shark appearing on the horizon might become a symbol of hope for cancer patients. Sharks have long been unfairly considered human-eaters and the epitome of death on beaches and in open waters, especially since Peter Benchley’s novel “Jaws” was published 40 years ago, in February 1974, and Steven Spielberg turned it into the first summer blockbuster a year later. However, scientists Carl Luer and Cathy Walsh of Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota believe after decades of research that sharks, along with rays and skates, could represent life nevertheless by leading us in the right direction in the fight against cancer. An article published by the annual 2013-14 Mote Magazine explains how these three species are the only ones that possess what is called the epigonal organ, whose cells produce immune system compounds with cancer-fighting properties. So far sharks’ substances have effectively halted “the growth of several types of human cancer cell lines in the lab,” explains the article titled, “Fighting Cancer Is No Weekend Project.” And yet, sharks have been annually slaughtered by millions through what is called “shark finning” due to the rich properties supposedly offered by their dorsal fins, the main ingredient of [...] newsinfl/found-in-translation-sharks-could-provide-hope-if-the-killing-ends/
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 22:45:12 +0000
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