S2E5 - The Dog That Never Died

Content Warning: Discussion of cancer and related illnesses

Cancer is scary. A transmissible, STI-based cancer is even scarier. Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor (CTVT) is the oldest, most prolific, cancer known in nature. And it's not alone. Nicole illustrates this bizarre disease which is expanding our understanding of cancer itself, and may have given one particular animal the key to immortality.

Nicole's Sources:

• Murchison, E., et al. 2014. Transmissible Dog Cancer Genome Reveals the Origin and History of an Ancient Cell Lineage. Science.


• Gori, K., et al. 2025. Horizontal transfer of nuclear DNA in transmissible cancer. PNAS.


• About Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease. Dept of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania.


• Bruzos, A. 2022. Heterogeneity of cockle transmissible cancers. YouTube.


• Brain Bleach: Correia-Caeiro, C., Guo, K., Mills, D. 2020. Perception of dynamic facial expressions of emotion between dogs and humans. Animal Cognition.


• Hank Green. The Truth About the Single-Celled Dog. SciShow. YouTube.

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