Both revere and fear around the world , thegreat white sharkis one of the most iconic creatures on the planet . Now , biologists have made a “ major scientific step ” and sequenced its intact genome , unlocking the secret behind the species ’ success .

Publishing their findings in theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , the squad discovered that the shark ’s genome is an impressive 1.5 times the size of our own . They also ascertain desoxyribonucleic acid chronological succession alteration that imply various factor have adapted to raise the stableness of the shark ’s genome . Basically , this mean great whites have evolved to minimise damage to their desoxyribonucleic acid , something that can leave to diseases like cancer . ( Despite the popular misconception , sharks can actually get Crab , but do so at a lower rate than humans . )

The squad also spotted similarity between the bang-up white shark ’s genome and that of the larger , less toothywhale shark . This is interesting because both fish are incredibly large with long lifetime . animal with these features should , in theory , be more at risk of develop cancer as they have more cells and more time for thing to go wrong . But both coinage swim against this current , cleverly evolving genetic strategies to reduce their risk . The fish also had genic adaptations to leave for speedy wound healing , something shark are incredibly good at .

" decipher the white shark genome is providing science with a new stage set of keys to unlock lingering closed book about these fear and misunderstood vulture – why sharks have boom for some 500 million geezerhood , longer than almost any craniate on Earth , " explained Dr Salvador Jorgensen , a fourth-year enquiry scientist at Monterey Bay Aquarium , in astatement .

The great white genome was also found to contain a surprisingly high telephone number of line , a type ofjumping gene(DNA sequences that can commute their position within the genome ) .

" These LINEs are known to stimulate genome instability by creating two-fold - run aground breaks in DNA , " tell carbon monoxide - leader Michael Stanhope . " It ’s plausible that this proliferation of LINEs in the white shark genome could represent a strong selective factor for the phylogeny of efficient DNA stamping ground mechanism , and is reflected in the positive selection and enrichment of so many genome constancy cistron . "

We still have much to learn about the slap-up white ’s genome , but the researchers trust that realize what makes it so stable could assist humans in the fight against cancer and old age - related diseases . It could also facilitate environmentalist working to make unnecessary the coinage , which , as an vertex predatory animal , is enormously important for exert the touchy balance of marine ecosystems .

While great white shark are feared across the world , they havefar more reasonto fear us than we do them . Their numbers are waning thanks to vivid sportfishing pressures , mainly from those trying to get hold of their sought after fins to use inshark fin soup .

" The genome data will be a great asset for understanding white shark universe dynamic to intimately preserve this awing specie that has captured the imagination of so many , " said preservation geneticist Steven O’Brien .

Changing attitude is a immense challenge for environmentalist undertake to raise knowingness of shark ’ predicament , so if you ’re still not keen , check out out theseamazing picturesof divers swimming side by side with a brawny yet peaceful great blanched .