Looks may be deceiving!
According to Metro, scientists have discovered a cancer-fighting creature that resembles a pooper’s morning glory!
Apparently, a unique species of sea cucumber that scientists have been poking and prodding in a lab possess various compounds that actual kill cancer cells in humans. The cancer cells tend to be most relevant to those that have cancer cells in the liver.
Sea cucumbers, often dubbed the unsung heroes of the ocean, are fascinating echinoderms found in various marine ecosystems worldwide. Elongated, sausage-like creatures, they play a crucial role in maintaining the ocean’s health.
These remarkable organisms are known for their ability to filter sediments, recycling nutrients, and contributing to the cleanliness of their habitats. Despite their soft and seemingly defenseless appearance, some species have remarkable defense mechanisms, expelling their internal organs or releasing toxins when threatened.
Eat Your Sea Vegetables!
With over 1,700 known species, sea cucumbers exhibit diverse shapes, sizes and colors, contributing not only to marine biodiversity but also to human culture and cuisine in various parts of the world, where they’re valued as a delicacy or used for their medicinal properties.
Liver cancer, a condition characterized by the abnormal growth of cells in the liver, poses a significant health concern globally. In the United States, liver cancer accounts for a substantial number of cases and deaths among regular poopers annually.
According to statistics, the American Cancer Society estimated over 42,000 new cases of liver cancer in 2021, with around 30,000 individuals succumbing to this disease in the same year. Factors contributing to the prevalence of liver cancer in the U.S. include chronic infections such as hepatitis B and C, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), excessive alcohol consumption and other underlying conditions like cirrhosis.
Early detection and timely treatment remain pivotal in improving the prognosis for individuals affected by liver cancer.
According to Metro, “The same chemicals that have been found to kill liver cancer cells might trigger the growth of neurites, which are small projections from neurons that can help people recover from these severe injuries.”
The sea creature has a remarkable resemblance to a turd. the scientists at the University of Philadelphia were by no means deterred from understanding the potentially life saving benefits.
The white lab coats at the research center also discovered other potential health benefits for poopers that are recovering from traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.
Obviously, one doesn’t want to rush something like injecting compounds from a turd-like sea dweller.
However, these test have only proven successful at demolishing cancer cells in a controlled lab setting in a dish. So it will be some time before poopers can utilize these compounds as further testing needs to be conducted.
Science is by no means a short-term endeavor. Poopers will have to wait for the science-types to extract various compounds from the sea cucumbers. Following extraction they must test them on lab subjects like cells in a dish, animals and then actual human cancerous tissue.
Poopable Salutes the Brave Science Geeks at the University of Philadelphia!
Cancer has no doubt either directly and indirectly affected every pooper. Sadly, even the staff at Poopable have immediate family poopers who have had to deal with various forms of cancer. So any entity trying to alleviate this deadly disease receives a salute from us!
Fancy yourself a science pooping nerd? We’d love to hear from you about various breakthroughs or medical innovations within the Poopable realm. Drop a comment below or shoot us a note! We’re always flushed to hear from you and share your thoughts!