In science, the best approach to understand aging and longevity is to adapt and evaluate facts already present. The capturing of an African rodent and its distinct characteristics are attracting the attention of scientists.
The rodent is remarkably resilient to cancer and handles aging better than most. This naked mole rat can help scientist to progress even further in longevity study.
Thomas Park, Professor at University of Illinois at Chicago, considers that the animal is from ‘Mars’, according to Associated Press. It does actually have lifespan of 30 years and is 3 to 4 inch.
Now scientists are studying the mole rat for aspect such as aging, stroke and cancer. It is believed that possible solutions to human health predicaments can be found.
Universities are deeply interested in research on this type of rat. Rochelle Buffenstein, at University of Texas Health Science Center In San Antonio is already breeding 1,500 of its kind. This is the largest colony reared in the U.S. Moreover, several other universities are also rearing colonies of the naked mole rate in tanks connected by translucent tubes.
Buffenstein studies the genus to progress in longevity research. This particular kind lives in underground tunnels having a similar structure to bees. The mammal is almost bald and blind. The African rodent could be compared to creased spring roll, having very small legs and being buck-toothed.
What attracts Scientists to the African Rodent?
The African rodent has a life span, which is up to around 30 years. This outweighs the mice by 15 times, which has a usual life span of only 2 years. The rodent remains healthy up to late life, whereby its bones only start to degrade slightly after the age of 24 years.
Pain Research
According to Buffenstein, these mammals are like superman. They appear ordinary and quite fragile. It is even possible to hold many in a palm. This little creature does eventually not feel pain. It has not the necessary neurotransmitter, which is called substance P. This implies that the naked mole rat can be used even to research on pain.
Stroke Research
Moreover, it still has more to offer. Their brain can function without the presence of oxygen for around 30 minutes. This, according to Park and researcher John Larson, could trigger critical facts about stroke study.
Cancer Research
The African rodent might be cancer resistant. There hasn’t been any rodent which has suffered from cancer. Empirical scrutiny suggests that a special gene named p16, might be responsible for the resilience. P16 avoids cells to grow hysterically, and cancer is developed when cells grow unmonitored.
Vera Gorbunova, Associate Professor of biology at the University of Rochester, said that it is important to look beyond the mice and go to species that have longer lifespan. Gorbunova, expects to have her colony of African rodent in the coming summer to study.
In the 1990s, only Buffenstein and her colleagues were studying the naked-mole rat. Nowadays, they are becoming more common and might be omnipresent in all research laboratories by year 2020.
Reference
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34207383/ns/technology_and_science-science/
Thu, Dec 10, 2009
Bioscience, Gerontology, Health And Aging, Longevity