Baleen whales are among the biggest creatures on Earth - new secrets about their size revealed

[Still Waters]

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People often think of all whales as giants of the sea when in fact they vary in size dramatically, from the 30-metre blue whale to the two-metre dwarf sperm whale. However, almost all of the largest family by size, the baleen whales, are massive – and scientists have only recently understood how they grew so big.

Adding to this understanding, a new study may help explain a longstanding puzzle in science about how baleen whales can have such a high cell reproduction rate without succumbing to cancer – a problem known as “Peto’s Paradox”.

The Australian researchers analysed a dataset of baleen whale genes and found that two of the largest species, blue and fin whales, have genes associated with a powerful immune system. Genes linked to survival and longevity were also found in all baleen species.

https://theconversation.com/baleen-whales-are-among-the-biggest-creatures-on-earth-science-is-revealing-new-secrets-about-their-size-235103

[Abramelin]

First time in my life that I heard of "rorquals".