Whales tan to protect DNA from UV damage, like humans do

In humans, skin pigmentation protects DNA from UV damage. Blue whales react to the sun’s rays similarly, darkening their skin when UV radiation is intense, according to a study published the week of August 30 in Scientific Reports.

“Whales can be thought of as the UV barometers of the sea,” said Mark Birch-Machin, a professor of molecular dermatology at Newcastle University and a coauthor of the paper, in a press release. “It’s important that we study them as they are some of the longest living sea creatures and are sensitive to changes in their environment so they reflect the health of the ocean.”

Read the full, original story here: Blue Whales Get Tans

 

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