The mole rat, native to East Africa, lacks pain sensitivity in its skin, and has very low metabolic and respiratory rates. The mole rat is also remarkable for its longevity and its resistance to cancer and oxygen deprivation. Kumamoto University will construct a mass breeding facility to exploit the unique features of this animal for pharmaceutical and cosmetic projects.
Nikkei Biotech news release, November 15, 2017
Naked mole rats, which exhibit anti-aging and cancer resistance features, selected as novel test animals in Kumamoto