The Cancer Resistance of Elephants

Elephants exhibit a lower cancer mortality rate than expected based on their size and longevity, presenting a fascinating paradox in comparative biology. While humans have cancer mortality rates between 10 and 25%, elephants have a much lower rate of approximately 4.8%. This discrepancy is particularly interesting given that larger creatures typically have more cells, which statistically increases cancer risk. The observation challenges conventional expectations and raises questions about the mechanisms behind cancer predisposition in different species.