New Study Reveals Deer Antlers Are A Form of Bone Cancer
According to a study published last week, Chinese scientists studying the genetics of animals that grow horns and antlers, found that "deer antlers are essentially a controlled form of bone cancer growth."
In an article on BigThink.com, in a surprise finding, the scientists also found that the same genes that make the antlers grow, much in the same way tumors grow, "also seem to be able to suppress or stop the growth entirely". And that's important, because if they can figure out the science of how to stop the growth of cancerous tumors, well - game over for cancer.
And in another surprise, the researchers says they found "that the cancer-suppressing genes also protect against the disease in general". The article goes on to say cancer rates in deer are five times less than other mammals.