The Unexpected Ally in Cancer Research: A Leopard Gecko's Hidden Strengths Scientists at the University of Nottingham are studying a breed of leopard gecko that develops aggressive tumors at an alarming rate, and their findings could hold the key to understanding cancer.
Unlike laboratory mice, which often require artificial tumor induction, these tiny reptiles develop cancer naturally and at a relatively young age.
This spontaneous development allows researchers to observe the disease in its most primal form, free from human intervention. The study's lead author, Dr.