Elephant Shark Genome May Hold Answers for Human Health Problems

Who knew elephant sharks held potential answers for health problems such as osteoporosis and poor immune systems?

An international team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Germany discovered new insights into human health by sequencing the elephant-shark genome

Several key findings were made from the sequenced elephant-shark genome, primarily that sharks lack the unique T-helper lymphocytes, which were long considered to be an essential immune-system defense against infections and disease. Without T-helper cells, the human immune system becomes more susceptible to infections, an issue observed in AIDS patients Read more...