Cancer is uncommon in elephants, despite their high body mass (high number of cells) and high life expectancy (high number of cell divisions)

Cancer is uncommon in elephants, despite their high body mass (high number of cells) and high life expectancy (high number of cell divisions)

While humans have only one copy (two alleles) of tumour suppressor gene TP53, African elephants have at least 20 copies (40 alleles). In the event of DNA damage, the rate of p53-mediated apoptosis is higher in elephants than in humans.