Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Transmission of Cancer 
Name: Christina 
Status: Student
Age: 18
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
I realize that AIDS can be "injected" into a person, and this has brought me to wonder of it is the same with cancer. Can cancer be passed on by injection?


Replies:
Yes. Cancer researchers frequently cause cancer in lab animals by injecting cancerous cells into a healthy animal. That way, they know that they are studying exactly the same type of cancer every time.

Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Director
PG Research Foundation, Darien, Illinois

Although there are some viruses which can increase risk of cancer and these viruses can be transmitted from person to person, cancer is not known to be transmitted from person to person.

Peter Faletra Ph.D.
Office of Science
Department of Energy


Click here to return to the Molecular Biology Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory