Dr. Charlotte Hacker discusses the complex genetics behind why dogs get cancer. Despite common beliefs, larger animals like elephants and blue whales rarely get cancer due to high levels of tumor suppressor genes like p53. Unfortunately, dogs' genetic makeup, influenced by rapid, human-directed breeding practices, makes them particularly susceptible to cancer.   Dr. Hacker explains the role of DNA, mutations, proto-oncogenes, and tumor suppressor genes in cancer development. She emphasizes variability across breeds, hereditary and spontaneous mutations, and environmental factors like UV light. Preventive measures for genetic and spontaneous mutations in dogs, common cancer-related genes in different breeds, and the promise of emerging research in fields like epigenetics are also discussed.  Your Voice Matters!   If you have a question for our team, or if you want to share your own hopeful dog cancer story, we want to hear from you! Go to https://www.dogcancer.com/ask to submit your question or story, or call our Listener Line at +1 808-868-3200 to leave a question.   Related Videos:  https://youtu.be/uBCRRQyaTgE  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7Wvo9IjcvA  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlkWnaCYvfU   Related Links:  Genetic Mutations and Dog Cancer: An Overview (article) https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/stats-and-facts/genetic-mutations-and-dog-cancer/  Chapters:  00:00 Introduction  00:21 Meet Dr. Charlotte Hacker  01:09 Understanding Dog Genetics  03:06 DNA and Its Role in Cancer  06:48 Mutations and Their Effects  18:43 Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressors  24:14 Preventing Mutations in Dogs  25:49 Conclusion and Resources  33:55 Closing Remarks and Resources    Get to know Charlotte Hacker: https://www.dogcancer.com/people/charlotte-hacker-ms-phd/    For more details, articles, podcast episodes, and quality education, go to the episode page: https://www.dogcancer.com/podcast/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices