For years, frogs have helped humans make key scientific advancements to improve the quality of life for us all.  They have helped with HIV research, pregancy research, and now, cancer research.  Scientists studying South African Clawed Frog (Xenopus Laevis) tadpoles – not to be confused with the African Dwarf Frog – have discovered a compound which prohibits the movement of pigment cells as the frog grows into an adult.

As a result of these pigments being blocked, the adult frog does not grow up with its usual greenish-brown color.  It is the uncontrolled movement of these pigment cells in both humans and frogs that causes a form of skin cancer.  According to the study, understanding how to block these cells could lead researchers to better understand how to prevent tumors from developing and spreading.

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Frog Books, Scientific Studies African Clawed Frog, cancer research, tadpoles, Xenopus Laevis

Here is a very cool National Geographic video of a Strawberry Poison Dart Frog taking care of her tadpoles.  The strawberry poison dart frog actually carries the tadpole on her back, looking for the perfect body of fresh water to keep the tadpole.  It can come back and check on her other tadpoles, listening for vibrations that uniquely identify her tadpoles.

Unusual Frogs Dendrobates Pumilio, Poison Dart Frog, Strawberry Poison Dart Frog, tadpoles