J. M. Vazquez

Hypoxia blunts angiogenic signaling and upregulates the antioxidant system in elephant seal endothelial cells

This study compares the hypoxic response of elephant seal and human endothelial cells, finding seal cells dampen angiogenic signaling, enhance antioxidant defenses, and maintain mitochondrial function.

A CDKN2C retroduplication in Bowhead whales is associated with the evolution of extremely long lifespans and alerted cell cycle dynamics

This study identifies a CDKN2C retroduplication in Bowhead whales linked to long lifespan and altered cell cycle dynamics through evolutionary genomics and experimental approaches.

Parallel evolution of reduced cancer risk and tumor suppressor duplications in Xenarthra

The paper shows that Xenarthran mammals evolved reduced cancer risk alongside tumor suppressor gene duplications, similar to Afrotherians, and exhibit slow cell proliferation and low DNA damage.

Concurrent evolution of anti-aging gene duplications and cellular phenotypes in long-lived turtles

This study shows that Galapagos giant tortoises evolved large body size, long lifespan, and reduced cancer risk through gene duplications and stress resistance mechanisms.

Pervasive duplication of tumor suppressors in Afrotherians during the evolution of large bodies and reduced cancer risk

This study identifies widespread tumor suppressor gene duplication in Afrotherians, suggesting it contributed to increased body size and reduced cancer risk.

A zombie LIF gene in elephants is up-regulated by TP53 to induce apoptosis in response to DNA damage

The paper shows that elephants re-functionalized a pseudogene to enhance apoptosis, potentially explaining their resistance to cancer despite large body size.