Whale research could inform fight against cancer
Jan. 2, 2026
by Jared F. Slanina
Unlike most mammals, whales grow throughout their lifespan – sometimes for up to 200 years. This may sound logical based on their massive size, with certain species of whales growing well over 100 feet in length and tipping the scales at nearly 200 tons.
Hans Thewissen, Ph.D., chair of biomedical sciences and Ingalls-Brown Professor of Anatomy, has traveled the world for several decades to learn about whale evolution, discovering facts about their anatomy that help us understand the fundamental workings of biology.
Informing human health
Dr. Thewissen’s whale research also is also of interest in understanding human health. For instance, whales have a mechanism to repair damaged DNA that is not known in humans and allows them to reach great ages, whereas in other species damaged DNA often leads to cancer. A better understanding of just how whales repair their DNA could help us understand cancer.
“Whales also avoid osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, despite their long lifespans,” Dr. Thewissen stated, noting that what we learn from whales could inform research on ailments that people face as they age.
Port Lay hunt
His most recent trip took him to Point Lay, Alaska, an extremely remote village on the Arctic coast of the state. Dr. Thewissen travels there when the indigenous people hunt whales as part of their subsistence harvest. He samples the animals to study the population size of the whales and their health.
Dr. Thewissen’s role is to help in determining the health and age of the whales that are caught, as well as to ensure the population thrives.
“The annual hunt is an all-hands-on-deck effort for the Point Lay population,” Dr. Thewissen said. “There are 12 small boats that go out on the ocean and try to hunt whales, maybe as many as 50, with all men, women, and kids in the village contributing in some way.”
Dr. Thewissen then brings back every whale jaw to study the sets of teeth in his lab.
“At times, I have brought back an entire head” he said.
“It’s Alaska, so people are leaving with all sorts of things,” Dr. Thewissen added with a smile. “Nobody bats an eye at my checked luggage there.”
Beluga teeth look nothing like human teeth, instead they resemble half a piece of blackboard chalk.
Dr. Thewissen uses the whale teeth to learn the age of the whales, because they deposit tissue in annual layers, akin to tree rings. Those layers also record other milestones such as past pregnancy, migrations, and molting.
Dr. Thewissen will be returning to Point Lay in July 2026 for the annual whale hunt, which he has done nearly every year since 2012.
“It’s been interesting to see the transition to the younger generation since I began traveling to Point Lay,” Dr. Thewissen stated. “Some of the children from my first visits are now adults who are helping to lead the way.”