so how about who’s forgotten to get their flu shot ever there we go
their flu shot ever there we go
their flu shot ever there we go how about who forgets to wash their
how about who forgets to wash their
how about who forgets to wash their hands after they use the restroom
hands after they use the restroom
hands after they use the restroom major Wyatt put your hand down that’s
major Wyatt put your hand down that’s
major Wyatt put your hand down that’s that’s gross okay so you you you you
that’s gross okay so you you you you
that’s gross okay so you you you you definitely you sir that’s disgusting and
definitely you sir that’s disgusting and
definitely you sir that’s disgusting and and you imagine they all got cancer so
thank you for coming to my TED talk
thank you for coming to my TED talk entitled what contagious cancer thinks
entitled what contagious cancer thinks
entitled what contagious cancer thinks about or tells us about what we know and
about or tells us about what we know and
about or tells us about what we know and first and foremost I’d like to thank
first and foremost I’d like to thank
first and foremost I’d like to thank that Emma Hannah who’s heard the speech
that Emma Hannah who’s heard the speech
that Emma Hannah who’s heard the speech so many times that she can probably give
so many times that she can probably give
so many times that she can probably give it better than I can and also my parents
it better than I can and also my parents
it better than I can and also my parents who from swim team to soccer tryouts
who from swim team to soccer tryouts
who from swim team to soccer tryouts taught me that probably the most
taught me that probably the most
taught me that probably the most fulfilling things in life are the ones
fulfilling things in life are the ones
fulfilling things in life are the ones that scare you just a little bit and so
that scare you just a little bit and so
that scare you just a little bit and so diving back in cancer spreads through a
diving back in cancer spreads through a
diving back in cancer spreads through a process known as metastasis which is
process known as metastasis which is
process known as metastasis which is Latin for beyond stillness and through
Latin for beyond stillness and through
Latin for beyond stillness and through this process breast cancer cells for
this process breast cancer cells for
this process breast cancer cells for example could break off be transported
example could break off be transported
example could break off be transported throughout the body and deposited in a
throughout the body and deposited in a
throughout the body and deposited in a new location where they would continue
new location where they would continue
new location where they would continue to grow these cells are still breast
to grow these cells are still breast
to grow these cells are still breast cancer cells only now they’re
cancer cells only now they’re
cancer cells only now they’re metastasized breast cancer cells and
metastasized breast cancer cells and
metastasized breast cancer cells and through this theory it is not illogical
through this theory it is not illogical
through this theory it is not illogical that the next host or organism that
that the next host or organism that
that the next host or organism that these cells invade does not necessarily
these cells invade does not necessarily
these cells invade does not necessarily have to be in the same body and so
have to be in the same body and so
have to be in the same body and so cancer first documented nearly 3,000
cancer first documented nearly 3,000
cancer first documented nearly 3,000 years ago by the historian herodotus as
years ago by the historian herodotus as
years ago by the historian herodotus as he sought to explain the mysterious lump
he sought to explain the mysterious lump
he sought to explain the mysterious lump in his queen at haces breast has always
in his queen at haces breast has always
in his queen at haces breast has always been thought to be non transmissible but
been thought to be non transmissible but
been thought to be non transmissible but what if cancer
what if cancer
what if cancer instead of being a disease that dies
instead of being a disease that dies
instead of being a disease that dies with its host and is therefore
with its host and is therefore
with its host and is therefore evolutionarily constrained from being
evolutionarily constrained from being
evolutionarily constrained from being the most dangerous disease in history
the most dangerous disease in history
the most dangerous disease in history what if you could catch cancer from
what if you could catch cancer from
what if you could catch cancer from someone else this idea is already
someone else this idea is already
someone else this idea is already apparent in the animal kingdom most
apparent in the animal kingdom most
apparent in the animal kingdom most notably with Tasmanian devils these
notably with Tasmanian devils these
notably with Tasmanian devils these devils can be afflicted with Tasmanian
devils can be afflicted with Tasmanian
devils can be afflicted with Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease or DFTD in
devil facial tumour disease or DFTD in
devil facial tumour disease or DFTD in which facial tumors like the ones you
which facial tumors like the ones you
which facial tumors like the ones you see here can be spread from devil the
see here can be spread from devil the
see here can be spread from devil the devil via biting mating and feeding and
devil via biting mating and feeding and
devil via biting mating and feeding and tragically this disease has become so
tragically this disease has become so
tragically this disease has become so severe that the Australian Government
severe that the Australian Government
severe that the Australian Government has placed the devil’s on the endangered
has placed the devil’s on the endangered
has placed the devil’s on the endangered species list for eight years and they
species list for eight years and they
species list for eight years and they now face extinction and most important
now face extinction and most important
now face extinction and most important to our core concept today is that
to our core concept today is that
to our core concept today is that researchers concluded that every single
researchers concluded that every single
researchers concluded that every single DFTD tumour is genetically identical
DFTD tumour is genetically identical
DFTD tumour is genetically identical which means that every single tumour is
which means that every single tumour is
which means that every single tumour is the same tumour which all started on a
the same tumour which all started on a
the same tumour which all started on a single Tasmanian Devil about fifty years
single Tasmanian Devil about fifty years
single Tasmanian Devil about fifty years ago and have since spread to many more
ago and have since spread to many more
ago and have since spread to many more and interestingly scientists found a
and interestingly scientists found a
and interestingly scientists found a second form of contagious cancer with
second form of contagious cancer with
second form of contagious cancer with symptoms almost identical to this one
symptoms almost identical to this one
symptoms almost identical to this one about two years ago so these devils have
about two years ago so these devils have
about two years ago so these devils have developed two forms of contagious cancer
developed two forms of contagious cancer
developed two forms of contagious cancer within really the last 30 to 50 years
within really the last 30 to 50 years
within really the last 30 to 50 years which really prompts a question exactly
which really prompts a question exactly
which really prompts a question exactly how uncommon is this disease now sheep
how uncommon is this disease now sheep
how uncommon is this disease now sheep can also be infected with a disease
can also be infected with a disease
can also be infected with a disease known as yaagh see Ekta which is
known as yaagh see Ekta which is
known as yaagh see Ekta which is Afrikaans for running sickness and since
Afrikaans for running sickness and since
Afrikaans for running sickness and since the scientific community isn’t literate
the scientific community isn’t literate
the scientific community isn’t literate in Afrikaans most scientists have
in Afrikaans most scientists have
in Afrikaans most scientists have simplified it to ovine pulmonary edema
simplified it to ovine pulmonary edema
simplified it to ovine pulmonary edema carcinoma which isn’t simple whatsoever
carcinoma which isn’t simple whatsoever
carcinoma which isn’t simple whatsoever so we’ll call it opa and sheep with opa
so we’ll call it opa and sheep with opa
so we’ll call it opa and sheep with opa produce a tumor filled lung fluid like
produce a tumor filled lung fluid like
produce a tumor filled lung fluid like the one you see on the left which is
the one you see on the left which is
the one you see on the left which is frequently discharged from the mouth and
frequently discharged from the mouth and
frequently discharged from the mouth and if unaffected sheep come in contact with
if unaffected sheep come in contact with
if unaffected sheep come in contact with this discharge they then develop the
this discharge they then develop the
this discharge they then develop the same exact type of lung tumor and oddly
same exact type of lung tumor and oddly
same exact type of lung tumor and oddly Dolly the sheep on the right the first
Dolly the sheep on the right the first
Dolly the sheep on the right the first mammal ever to be cloned contracted opa
mammal ever to be cloned contracted opa
mammal ever to be cloned contracted opa and was subs
and was subs
and was subs we euthanized and there are also various
we euthanized and there are also various
we euthanized and there are also various other animals that have no that are
other animals that have no that are
other animals that have no that are known to be susceptible to contagious
known to be susceptible to contagious
known to be susceptible to contagious cancer to include these clams but as you
cancer to include these clams but as you
cancer to include these clams but as you can see clams are pretty boring whether
can see clams are pretty boring whether
can see clams are pretty boring whether they have cancer or not
they have cancer or not
they have cancer or not so we don’t really need to talk about
so we don’t really need to talk about
so we don’t really need to talk about them and so researchers have also been
them and so researchers have also been
them and so researchers have also been able to manipulate metastasis and the
able to manipulate metastasis and the
able to manipulate metastasis and the most important work in this field was
most important work in this field was
most important work in this field was conducted by dr. Peyton ruse who
conducted by dr. Peyton ruse who
conducted by dr. Peyton ruse who injected a contagious sarcoma and the
injected a contagious sarcoma and the
injected a contagious sarcoma and the Plymouth Rock hens and what he did was
Plymouth Rock hens and what he did was
Plymouth Rock hens and what he did was he extracted fluid from sarcomas already
he extracted fluid from sarcomas already
he extracted fluid from sarcomas already growing and hence filtered the fluid
growing and hence filtered the fluid
growing and hence filtered the fluid through ultra fine sieve with holes so
through ultra fine sieve with holes so
through ultra fine sieve with holes so small that not even individual cancer
small that not even individual cancer
small that not even individual cancer cells could fit through and then
cells could fit through and then
cells could fit through and then injected the remaining material into
injected the remaining material into
injected the remaining material into unaffected hens which then developed the
unaffected hens which then developed the
unaffected hens which then developed the same exact type of cancer even though
same exact type of cancer even though
same exact type of cancer even though they hadn’t been exposed to any
they hadn’t been exposed to any
they hadn’t been exposed to any particular cancer cells and he won the
particular cancer cells and he won the
particular cancer cells and he won the Nobel Prize in 1966 for what he called
Nobel Prize in 1966 for what he called
Nobel Prize in 1966 for what he called the roost sarcoma virus and also
the roost sarcoma virus and also
the roost sarcoma virus and also researchers were able to transfer a
researchers were able to transfer a
researchers were able to transfer a contagious sarcoma between Syrian
contagious sarcoma between Syrian
contagious sarcoma between Syrian hamsters through only spontaneous
hamsters through only spontaneous
hamsters through only spontaneous physical and social contact and even
physical and social contact and even
physical and social contact and even observed one tumor lived for 11 years
observed one tumor lived for 11 years
observed one tumor lived for 11 years and passed between two hundred and
and passed between two hundred and
and passed between two hundred and eighty-eight hamsters and there have
eighty-eight hamsters and there have
eighty-eight hamsters and there have also been various human case studies
also been various human case studies
also been various human case studies which augment these findings and all of
which augment these findings and all of
which augment these findings and all of this data all this research pulled
this data all this research pulled
this data all this research pulled together sparked the cancer virus theory
together sparked the cancer virus theory
together sparked the cancer virus theory the cancer virus program grew into a new
the cancer virus program grew into a new
the cancer virus program grew into a new 500 million dollar budget
500 million dollar budget
500 million dollar budget Life magazine proclaimed that cancer may
Life magazine proclaimed that cancer may
Life magazine proclaimed that cancer may be infectious contagious cancer now has
be infectious contagious cancer now has
be infectious contagious cancer now has over ten point six million hits on
over ten point six million hits on
over ten point six million hits on Google and two months ago the New York
Google and two months ago the New York
Google and two months ago the New York Times proclaimed that contagious human
Times proclaimed that contagious human
Times proclaimed that contagious human cancer is in the realm of medical
cancer is in the realm of medical
cancer is in the realm of medical possibility so cancer must be a
possibility so cancer must be a
possibility so cancer must be a constantly evolving disease one that is
constantly evolving disease one that is
constantly evolving disease one that is fine-tuned Darwin’s theory of evolution
fine-tuned Darwin’s theory of evolution
fine-tuned Darwin’s theory of evolution over thousands and thousands of years
over thousands and thousands of years
over thousands and thousands of years and by viewing cancer is this ultimate
and by viewing cancer is this ultimate
and by viewing cancer is this ultimate product of Darwinian selection proposes
product of Darwinian selection proposes
product of Darwinian selection proposes that even if some cancer
that even if some cancer
that even if some cancer are not by nature contagious now they
are not by nature contagious now they
are not by nature contagious now they could eventually evolve to become so in
could eventually evolve to become so in
could eventually evolve to become so in order to be more effective in the future
order to be more effective in the future
order to be more effective in the future so cancer with its crab-like hold on the
so cancer with its crab-like hold on the
so cancer with its crab-like hold on the bodies and minds of America is probably
bodies and minds of America is probably
bodies and minds of America is probably the most daunting disease of the 21st
the most daunting disease of the 21st
the most daunting disease of the 21st century and its ability to baffle
century and its ability to baffle
century and its ability to baffle researchers has made it almost
researchers has made it almost
researchers has made it almost impossible to find a cure but perhaps
impossible to find a cure but perhaps
impossible to find a cure but perhaps the most concerning facet of the entire
the most concerning facet of the entire
the most concerning facet of the entire theory of contagious cancer is the
theory of contagious cancer is the
theory of contagious cancer is the potential implications that it brings
potential implications that it brings
potential implications that it brings about how can we spend over 100 billion
about how can we spend over 100 billion
about how can we spend over 100 billion dollars a year on research how can we
dollars a year on research how can we
dollars a year on research how can we have access to almost 3000 years of data
have access to almost 3000 years of data
have access to almost 3000 years of data and how can this disease be the most
and how can this disease be the most
and how can this disease be the most frightening diagnosis for a family to
frightening diagnosis for a family to
frightening diagnosis for a family to receive and yet a fundamental concept
receive and yet a fundamental concept
receive and yet a fundamental concept can you catch it from someone else
can you catch it from someone else
can you catch it from someone else eludes us what if everything we know
eludes us what if everything we know
eludes us what if everything we know about a disease that killed over 500,000
about a disease that killed over 500,000
about a disease that killed over 500,000 Americans last year has changed how then
Americans last year has changed how then
Americans last year has changed how then are we ever able to state definitively
are we ever able to state definitively
are we ever able to state definitively that we know anything at all to what
that we know anything at all to what
that we know anything at all to what extent can we prove something given that
extent can we prove something given that
extent can we prove something given that seldom few subjects have as much time
seldom few subjects have as much time
seldom few subjects have as much time and resources devoted to them as cancer
and resources devoted to them as cancer
and resources devoted to them as cancer clearly manpower money time and effort
clearly manpower money time and effort
clearly manpower money time and effort do not always bring about knowledge so
do not always bring about knowledge so
do not always bring about knowledge so it has become apparent that a broader
it has become apparent that a broader
it has become apparent that a broader reality is the new norm cancer evolves
reality is the new norm cancer evolves
reality is the new norm cancer evolves and in order to understand this
and in order to understand this
and in order to understand this evolution our knowledge too must evolve
evolution our knowledge too must evolve
evolution our knowledge too must evolve knowledge is often revealed to and more
knowledge is often revealed to and more
knowledge is often revealed to and more often concealed from us by nature and
often concealed from us by nature and
often concealed from us by nature and time and we are left to discover life at
time and we are left to discover life at
time and we are left to discover life at their discretion the earth isn’t flat
their discretion the earth isn’t flat
their discretion the earth isn’t flat for example everyone knows that leeches
for example everyone knows that leeches
for example everyone knows that leeches can’t suck sickness out of your body the
can’t suck sickness out of your body the
can’t suck sickness out of your body the universe doesn’t revolve around the
universe doesn’t revolve around the
universe doesn’t revolve around the earth
earth
earth literally no one thinks that the body is
literally no one thinks that the body is
literally no one thinks that the body is composed of solely phlegm and bile so
composed of solely phlegm and bile so
composed of solely phlegm and bile so clearly it has not only contagious
clearly it has not only contagious
clearly it has not only contagious cancers that can be spread between
cancers that can be spread between
cancers that can be spread between organisms but contagious ideas as well
organisms but contagious ideas as well
organisms but contagious ideas as well and while we frequently think that we
and while we frequently think that we
and while we frequently think that we control the future that we possess the
control the future that we possess the
control the future that we possess the knowledge necessary to guarantee health
knowledge necessary to guarantee health
knowledge necessary to guarantee health and understand the world life often
and understand the world life often
and understand the world life often reveals to us that nothing is as it
reveals to us that nothing is as it
reveals to us that nothing is as it seems
seems
seems knowledge is very often much less finite
knowledge is very often much less finite
knowledge is very often much less finite than we would hope and the quote the New
than we would hope and the quote the New
than we would hope and the quote the New York Times from February 2016 Nature is
York Times from February 2016 Nature is
York Times from February 2016 Nature is infinite in its surprises so cover your
infinite in its surprises so cover your
infinite in its surprises so cover your mouth when you cough because you really
mouth when you cough because you really
mouth when you cough because you really don’t want to catch cancer
don’t want to catch cancer
don’t want to catch cancer [Applause]
”
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