August 3, 2012

Skin cancer found in wild fish




Skin cancer found in wild fish

August 2, 2012:
Widespread skin cancer has been identified for the first time in wild marine fish populations.

A collaborative study between Newcastle University in the UK, and the Australian Institute of Marine Science published today in the academic journal PLoS One reveals the incidence of melanoma in the coral trout, a species found on the Great Barrier Reef and directly beneath the world’s largest hole in the ozone layer.

This is the first time skin cancer has been diagnosed in wild fish populations and the team, led by Newcastle University’s Dr Michael Sweet, say the appearance of the melanoma is almost identical to that found in humans.


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