Cancer is an animal ancestor?

[blaaah]

Cancer is an animal from many years ago...
It's an idea.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20928033.700-tumours-could-be-the-ancestors-of-animals.html

 

[alexleighton]

I don't know enough to make any real comments on this, but it's interesting nonetheless. Thanks for sharing!

 

[PeterJB]

Seems a bit strange to me. They talk as if Cancer is some kind of cunning dinosaur-parasite with a mind of its own.

 

[Omnis]

If New Scientist is anything like New Coke, I'll stick with the real thing.

 

[blaaah]

New Scientist is always a scientific magazine, it will print popular stories, but with both sides to the story as done in the linked article, referring to sceptical comments.
It doesn't allow just one individual to have their say and opinion.

 

[Sprite]

I second New Scientist as an interesting magazine, they tend to lean towards sensationalist reporting and will publish articles that are more of an interest to Joe Public rather than just catering to men in white coats.

The article in question does raise some interesting questions that will either be proved or disproved but still interesting none the less. As my father has cancer I'm sure he will be thrilled to learn of a possible 600million year old parasite taking up home in his kidney.

 

[PiRacingChamp]

This is an interesting hypothesis. This needs to proven or dis-proven, so the medical community knows if there needs to be another direction pursued. A good friend of mine is working on her doctorate in chemistry. I am going to forward this link to her.

Too bad this won't help my mom. We recently found out she has stage 4 cancer.

 

[sumbrownkid]

This is an interesting hypothesis. This needs to proven or dis-proven, so the medical community knows if there needs to be another direction pursued. A good friend of mine is working on her doctorate in chemistry. I am going to forward this link to her.

Too bad this won't help my mom. We recently found out she has stage 4 cancer.

I'm sorry to hear that.

My aunt was also recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer and is due for surgery soon.