A pet gecko known for developing tumors at an exceptionally high rate could offer scientists a valuable new way to study how cancer begins, evolves, and spreads. The findings may also help researchers understand why certain animals are especially vulnerable to cancer while others develop the disease only rarely. 

Cancer appears to be uncommon in some reptiles, including turtles and tortoises. However, the leopard gecko color variety sold in the pet trade as the “lemon frost” morph presents a striking exception. Aggressive tumors develop in about 80 per cent of these geckos.