{"id":1885,"date":"2026-04-05T13:01:59","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T09:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/?p=1885"},"modified":"2026-04-05T13:01:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T09:01:59","slug":"tp53-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/en\/2026\/04\/tp53-2\/","title":{"rendered":"TP53"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"79\" data-end=\"322\">Longevity in its most absolute form, immortality, is a recurring theme in science fiction. In reality, human life expectancy is constantly increasing. The eradication of a deadly disease such as cancer could only further extend that longevity.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"324\" data-end=\"366\"><strong data-start=\"324\" data-end=\"366\">The end of cancer: science or fiction?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"368\" data-end=\"799\">Our bodies are made up of approximately 50 trillion cells. Whatever their specialization\u2014whether blood, lung, or skin cells\u2014they are all destined for the same fate: to be born, to reproduce, and to die. However, there is one type of cell that does not die: the diseased cell, the cancer cell. Although abnormal compared to healthy cells, these cells continue to reproduce, creating more diseased cells that eventually form a tumor.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"801\" data-end=\"1171\">If we consider a cancer cell as an accident of cellular reproduction (a healthy cell giving rise to a diseased one), we might assume that the more cells an organism has, and the more those cells have divided, the greater the likelihood of errors occurring. In that case, large animals\u2014especially those that live long lives\u2014should be more affected by this \u201cnumbers game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1173\" data-end=\"1474\">But this is not what is observed at all. Humans are no more prone to cancer than mice, and even more strikingly, elephants\u2014whose bodies contain far more cells and who live much longer\u2014are up to five times less susceptible to cancer. In this regard, they hold a remarkable record. How is this possible?<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1476\" data-end=\"1556\">Scientists have discovered that elephants possess a powerful ally known as TP53.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1558\" data-end=\"1795\">TP53 is a gene that monitors the DNA of cells. DNA is the molecule that carries genetic information, passed from cell to cell across generations. When TP53 detects a cell with damaged DNA, it takes action and, depending on the situation:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1797\" data-end=\"1902\">\n<li data-start=\"1797\" data-end=\"1819\">repairs the damage<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1820\" data-end=\"1872\">halts the cell lineage by blocking cell division<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1873\" data-end=\"1902\">triggers self-destruction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1904\" data-end=\"1966\">This is how TP53 earned its status as a tumor suppressor gene.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1968\" data-end=\"2133\">While humans have one TP53 gene, elephants far surpass us, possessing around 20 copies. This may explain the difference in cancer susceptibility between our species.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"2135\" data-end=\"2388\">\n<p data-start=\"2137\" data-end=\"2388\">\u201cNature has already figured out how to prevent cancer. Now it\u2019s up to us to learn how different animals solve this problem so we can adapt these strategies to prevent cancer in humans,\u201d concludes Dr. Schiffman, one of the researchers who studied TP53.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"2390\" data-end=\"2517\"><strong data-start=\"2390\" data-end=\"2401\">Source:<\/strong><br data-start=\"2401\" data-end=\"2404\" \/><em data-start=\"2404\" data-end=\"2517\">Les Dossiers Sciences et Univers \u2013 Issue 5, February\u2013April 2016 \u2013 \u201cDefeating Cancer Thanks to Elephants,\u201d p. 83<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2519\" data-end=\"2735\"><strong data-start=\"2519\" data-end=\"2542\">Additional sources:<\/strong><br data-start=\"2542\" data-end=\"2545\" \/>The incredible defense of elephants against cancer explained<br data-start=\"2605\" data-end=\"2608\" \/><a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencesetavenir.fr\/animaux\/grands-mammiferes\/l-incroyable-defense-des-elephants-contre-le-cancer-elucidee_102072\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"2608\" data-end=\"2733\">https:\/\/www.sciencesetavenir.fr\/animaux\/grands-mammiferes\/l-incroyable-defense-des-elephants-contre-le-cancer-elucidee_102072<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2737\" data-end=\"2787\">Cancer<br data-start=\"2743\" data-end=\"2746\" \/><a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"http:\/\/pages.infinit.net\/marct\/cancer.htm\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"2746\" data-end=\"2787\">http:\/\/pages.infinit.net\/marct\/cancer.htm<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Longevity in its most absolute form, immortality, is a recurring theme in science fiction. In reality, human life expectancy is constantly increasing. The eradication of a deadly disease such as cancer could only further extend that longevity. The end of&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/en\/2026\/04\/tp53-2\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continuer la lecture <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1033,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[144],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science-en"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/elephant.jpg?fit=340%2C240&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4u88f-up","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1922,"url":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/en\/2026\/04\/chapter-13-revelations\/","url_meta":{"origin":1885,"position":0},"title":"Chapter 13 &#8211; Revelations","author":"Annie","date":"5 avril 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Great Council meeting is in two days. I have gone back to my indoor training in the mornings, and I spend my afternoons with Fragrant Flower from Isadora Plain. The Major\u2019s initiative of taking me up to swim was not appreciated by his hierarchy, who remind him that my\u2026","rel":"","context":"Dans &quot;I - When you think about it&quot;","block_context":{"text":"I - When you think about it","link":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/en\/category\/fiction-en\/think\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/dematerialisation.jpg?fit=340%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1806,"url":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/en\/2026\/04\/chapter-4-proxiterra\/","url_meta":{"origin":1885,"position":1},"title":"Chapter 4 &#8211; Proxiterra","author":"Annie","date":"5 avril 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"- It\u2019s good to have you here, Dad! - Oh Beth, I wish we saw each other more often. It\u2019s too bad we live so far away. Without this business meeting in your neighborhood, I really don\u2019t know when we would be able to get together. - Maybe not before\u2026","rel":"","context":"Dans &quot;I - When you think about it&quot;","block_context":{"text":"I - When you think about it","link":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/en\/category\/fiction-en\/think\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/proxyterra.jpg?fit=340%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1852,"url":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/en\/2026\/04\/chapter-e-a-new-attempt\/","url_meta":{"origin":1885,"position":2},"title":"Chapter \u00e8 &#8211; A New Attempt","author":"Annie","date":"5 avril 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"I am on my way to my second attempt at a first travel. It freaks me a bit out. I received a letter from the lottery telling me that my tests didn\u2019t show anything abnormal. Thus, I was invited to book another travel session which would be considered my first.\u2026","rel":"","context":"Dans &quot;I - When you think about it&quot;","block_context":{"text":"I - When you think about it","link":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/en\/category\/fiction-en\/think\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/minuit.jpg?fit=340%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1906,"url":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/en\/2026\/04\/hide-and-seek\/","url_meta":{"origin":1885,"position":3},"title":"Hide and Seek","author":"Annie","date":"5 avril 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"This is a short story I wrote as the last assignment of the course Craft of Plot. Zian is walking back and forth in his living room like a lion in a cage. His wife should be there. She is a famous writer and she is finishing a novel. Usually,\u2026","rel":"","context":"Dans &quot;Short stories&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Short stories","link":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/en\/category\/fiction-en\/shortstories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/hollowtree.jpg?fit=340%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1811,"url":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/en\/2026\/04\/chapter-5-the-training\/","url_meta":{"origin":1885,"position":4},"title":"Chapter 5 &#8211; The Training","author":"Annie","date":"5 avril 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"- Did you plan to tell me? - Listen, Colin, I just wanted to have you back from your trip so we could discuss this face to face. I\u2019ve already had an unpleasant conversation with Mum about it. I don\u2019t need to have another one with you. - Well, I\u2026","rel":"","context":"Dans &quot;I - When you think about it&quot;","block_context":{"text":"I - When you think about it","link":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/en\/category\/fiction-en\/think\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/building.jpg?fit=340%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1916,"url":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/en\/2026\/04\/chapter-12-on-dalygaran-part-one\/","url_meta":{"origin":1885,"position":5},"title":"Chapter 12 &#8211; On Dalygaran \u2013 Part One","author":"Annie","date":"5 avril 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Since my arrival on Dalygaran, my time has been very full. The mornings have been dedicated to physical activities, supervised by the Major. My body, I was told, is a brand-new model whose capacities have yet to be tested. I feel like it is more me they are testing. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"Dans &quot;I - When you think about it&quot;","block_context":{"text":"I - When you think about it","link":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/en\/category\/fiction-en\/think\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/pendule.jpg?fit=340%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1885"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1885\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1886,"href":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1885\/revisions\/1886"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1033"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/annierun.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}