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| Fish that contain cartilage can be classified into four different classes of immunoglobulin. Since sharks are cartilaginous fishes, their bodies contain antibodies that lack the capacity to bind more strongly to an antigen during the course of a prolonged immune response. It has been determined by researches from the Institute of Michigan that it is an advantage when it comes to fighting infectious diseases. In her article, Healing Powers, Rosie Mestel describes the sharks immune system as one of the best ways to fight off foreign invaders. Sharks have y-shaped antibodies with two light chains and two heavy chains with Variable (V), Diverse (D), Joining (J), and Constant (C) segments, and sharks also cut and paste their antibody deoxyribonucleic acid. The sharks most distinguished feature of the immune system is the fact that a large percentage of the gene clusters in every cell are inherited with their V, D1, D2, and J gene segments already entirely or partially joined. This allows for the variability from the sheer numbers of antibody genes, from the choices that can be made during joining and from the little changes made when those joins take place (Mestel, 43). Yet there are still the genes that never undergo joining because their Vs, Ds and Js are already pasted together. Although people would think that the shark immune’s system would cause more problems, in actuality it helps them fight off deadly infections. The fact that their encode enzymes that cut and past antibody genes look like T-cell receptor genes gives small evidence that might show that their immune system are not as different as our own immune system. One other substances has peaked scientists interest in sharks. Squalimine was being tested to see if it may become a possible addition to cancer treatment. In an experiment taken place in the east coast, it seems that the squalimine attacks tumors by suppressing the formation of new blood vessels. This attack mechanism of the tumor seems to change the cells shape through disruption of the exchange of sodium and hydrogen on the cells surface. It was found that the synthetic material that we created from the actual shark steroid showed that the size of the tumor was controlled and that the individual lab rat had a longer life span. If further tests prove positive, human testing may commence in a year. If squalimine proves true, it will be added to chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery presently used today. Though the experiments have been highly favorable, it is still unclear whether or not it will be useful to cancer patients as a possible treatment. At the present time, researchers are focusing their attention to the sharks cartilage. |
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