"Shellfish Face Ancient Cancer Epidemic: A Virus-Like Spread Unveiled"
Scientists have discovered two strains of an ancient form of leukemia-like cancer that spreads among shellfish, similar to how Tasmanian devils and dogs transmit cancer cells. The transmissible tumor cells float in the water and are taken up by clams, multiplying and replicating in their hosts before escaping to attack others. This discovery raises the possibility that there may be more forms of transmissible cancer in the animal kingdom, posing a potential threat to humans. The research also revealed that the cancer cells in shellfish exhibit highly variable amounts of genetic material, challenging the belief that cancers require stable genomes to survive long-term.