Why is there cancer in animals ? And why do coconut trees produce saplings instead of coconuts?

 

Young TXD hybrid coconut tree very active in reproduction!  

Why do cancer develop in certain animals in their natural habitat? Cancer is seen in Tasmanian Devils & Sea lions,  They neither smoke tobacco nor chew tobacco, they do not drink alcohol,  they do not eat fast food, there is no obesity and they breast feed their young ones. But still they develop cancer.  The fact is that most of these animals are at the verge of extinction. Their reproduction rate is low due to various reasons To prevent extinction due to the insufficient sexual reproduction these animals are attempting asexual reproduction. Several animals in the zoos die of cancer because at captivity their reproduction is very low due to various reasons. Recently a Zebra shark in captivity without a partner for sexual reproduction, reproduced asexually (parthenogenesis). Unfortunately in mammals this attempt for asexual reproduction fails due to the absence of asexual reproduction genes. This defective product of asexual reproduction is manifested as a genetically unstable growth; we call cancer. Paradoxically  instead of saving the animals from extinction these cancers enhance the extinction process because of the early death  of the animals due to cancer. Animals ( dragons, hammer head sharks zebra sharks etc.) which are able to reproduce succesfully rarely develop cancer. Here is another evidence to support  the hypothesis that cancer is a failed attempt for asexual reproduction. Is humans also at the verge of extinction ? Perhaps yes. Due to the intentional reduction of attempts for reproduction and the progressive deterioration of quality and quantity of sperms in men, sexual reproduction rate is deteriorating. Besides, those who have good sperm count undergo vasectomy for birth control . And it is estimated that majority of men shall not have reproductive capacity by 2060!! (Alex Ford, Reproductive health) That is the beginning of the journey to extinction.Perhaps the journey starts from Seoul in South Korea with a fertility rate of 0.63. And in South Korea cancer rate is 239.9 and it is the most common cause for death! Pandemics of fatal viral diseases shall enhance the process of extinction. 

Kerala, a small state in India has lots of coconut plantations. Millions of coconuts are being harvested for human consumption  every year since last several centuries. Every bit of the nut is used for human consumption. On several occasions the trees are not allowed   even to complete the flowering and nut formation, for the sake of extraction of  an intoxicating drink - the  toddy . This is being continued  uninhibited for last several centuries. Ultimately only very few nuts, from a few selected trees  are used for making seedlings and replanting. All the trees are producing nuts for growing  new trees as a part of the sexual reproduction. But unfortunately the reproduction process stops at the level of formation of seeds in a vast majority of trees. Germination is not allowed by humans! The trees react to this  diversion of  huge number of seeds from seedling formation to  human consumption. The result is,  the trees are making attempts for asexual reproduction by growing saplings from the nodes instead of  the bunch of male and female flowers. This was recently reported from Kerala (Mathrubhumi,8th April,2021). Perhaps similar attempts  might have been made for asexual reproduction in the previous years. And the farmers might have removed the unproductive and'diseased'trees without being reported! The farmers plant hybread coconut trees for getting more coconuts & they give good manure for getting more coconuts.The genes and the manure decide the productivity (reproduction) of coconut. It is important to recognise that nature always have a plan B for reproduction; the most important function of a living organism.   

 To know more about cancer and the new hypothesis , you may  please read the e book Why Cancer? ISBN:9781370190973.smashwords.com/books/view/769583 

OR Cancer: The asexual reproduction hypothesis. JIMSA 2020.Jan-Mar.vol.33,No.1,p37-39. www.imsaonline.com