Nuffnang

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Cancer-Sniffing Dog

This morning we saw a program on CNN about a Korean firm which has succeded in cloning 4 labrador puppies from cloned foetuses of Marine, a six-and-a-half-year-old dog trained in Japan to detect cancer patients by smell. We've seen other programs on Discovery Channel on dogs that can sniff cancer out. Looks like doggie noses can sniff out more than just food!

Since it was an interesting feature, we did a google search and found the article on Yahoo to share with you.

These handout pictures released by Yuji Satoh of the St. Sugar Cancer Sniffing Dog Training Centre show Marine, the black labrador retriever said to have a cancer-sniffing ability. .(AFP/HO)

Extract of article:
Mon Jun 16, 12:20 PM ET
SEOUL (AFP) - A South Korean firm said Monday it has successfully cloned four dogs capable of sniffing out human cancers by using tissue from a retriever in Japan.The four black retrievers were born last month from cloned foetuses of Marine, a six-and-a-half-year-old dog trained in Japan to detect cancer patients by smell, RNL Bio said in a statement.

The cloning, requested by the Japanese stemcell company Seems, was conducted by a team led by Seoul National University professor Lee Byeong-Chun and verified by the medical school, it said. Seems wanted to clone the dogs because Marine could not give birth to siblings following an operation to have her womb removed, it said.

Researchers in several countries are investigating whether dogs have the ability to detect lung, breast, prostate and skin cancer at an early and treatable stage. They believe cancer cells create a scent not present in healthy cells, which can theoretically be picked up by dogs in breath or urine samples.

17 comments:

bokjae said...

Thanks for sharing this! Heard about it too but not sure from where! :)

Unknown said...

I've read and watched shows about dogs that do medical detection. It's very interesting. Lots of rescued coonhounds are active in Search & Rescue ... I wonder if they would have a talent at this as well? I think Booker would be great at S&R. He sure has the nose!

Unknown said...

That's weird -- sorry Blogspot picked up a different email address for us! The comment above is from Booker, of course!

Xsara and Tani said...

I've heard about dogs being able to do this, they are such amazing animals!

Lorenza said...

Hi, Kess!
I've heard about it and its amazing!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Amber-Mae said...

I haven't heard about this dog but i think she's amazing! I'm having difficulties sniffing out mah treats & tennis ball. My nose ain't that good!

Butt wiggles,
Solid Gold Dancer

Kess And Her Mama said...

Thanks for sharing your amazement Uncle BokJae, Booker, Xsara, Amber, Lorenza. It truly is amazing.

Grandma Julia said...

Why am I not surprised? Just a guess but I think its the caring instinct in dogs that makes them capable of doing caring things.

River said...

We need dogs in our lives, that's for sure!! No machine or medicine can replicate their abilities or good effect on us.

Thor and Jack said...

Dad was talking about it this week! It´s amazing! Thanks for sharing!

Thor

JAZZ AND DIXIE said...

Wow that is a powerful nose. Us beagles also have the power of the sniffer! We read your last post of the power of the beagle nose and mum agrees that there is no time for day dreaming when she takes us for a walk. Once Jazz managed to gulp down some poison bait in the park and almost died!
Lix
Dixie

Kess And Her Mama said...

You're right Grandma Julia. Dogs are instinctively caring.

Kess And Her Mama said...

River, Dogs are definitely needed!

Kess And Her Mama said...

Thor, It is incredible, isn't it.

Kess And Her Mama said...

Jazz, That's scary. I'm glad you're OK.

bokjae said...

Hey Kess! got an Award for you! Come get it from my place! Congrats!

molly said...

Very interesting article. Thanks for sharing.
Have a wonderful day!

Thanks for signing my guest book.