Researchers biologists call the shark the perfect life machinery. Its existence dates back to 400 million years ago and it has had an unchanged form, the evolution hasn't touched it. Its survival can be explained by the fact that the body of the shark is created so as to serve this purpose- surviving- in every respect. Its physical form, senses, way of breeding, resistance to diseases are simply perfect.
The shark never sleeps, never rests and never suffers from cancer. Its enemies are other sharks and the man. The shark utilizes all five senses to provide itself with food. It activates them one at a time while they hunt down the pray. The shark can hear several kilometers away because sounds travel faster through water that through air. Lorenzi's ampouls, a shark's sense, little sensor cells that are present under the head skin, are activated several centimeters from the pray. They are made up of nerves and detect weak electric fields on short distances which enables sharks to find the prey without using eyesight or smell.
Under the head skin and along both sides of the body there is a number of channels filled with liquid. The side lines and the Lorenzi's ampoul make a part of the complex receptor system which turn sounds and mechanical disruptions into nerv impulses and then these direct the shark to a certain move or sound. The brain is 18 cm in diameter and 2/3of it serves the sense of smell. Sharks can smell something kilometers away and they can register irregular movements of a wounded fish a kilometer and a half away. It activates its sight when it reaches 15 meters from its prey moving zig-zag towards it. Its incredably strong jaw bites the prey developing the pressure of 3 tons per 1 cm2. The aerodynamic body enables the shark to developthe speed of 10 km per hour, and when it aims at to its prey, up to 25 km. The skin is different from that of other fish because it has tiny teeth on it instead of scales and if you try to go with your hand down its body, you might hurt it. Sharks live approximately 100 years, they do not get sick and their wounds heal quickly.The size of the shark can reach up to 12 m, and it can weigh up to 15 tons. Sharks give birth to a small number of offspring which they carry for 11 months, and when they come to the world, they grow up slowly. The shark's blood is loaded with antibodies that effectively fight viral as well as bacterial infections and since they never sleep, their immune system is always awake, ready to react to certain attacks by dangerous substances, while the human's immune system reacts only it has been attacked by a virus, bacteria, infections…
Sharks have a singular set of immunoglobines which are even able to kill cancer cells. Looking for the proof of this scientists place a shark from its natural habitat into a pool filled with water that contained a high level of chemical cancerogenic substances. The research lasted for years and after each inspection of its body the tests were negative. Sharks have cartilage and not one bone in their bodies. The shark's skeleton is made up of a crispy substance containing proteins and complex hydrocarbons, and is tightened with spindle-shaped fibre.
Sharks have been existeing for more than 400 million years, and people for 500 000 years which means that humans and the human flesh are predicted to be on the shark's menu. However, humans have found out that the shark may be beneficial to them staring from parts that are for immediate use, ending with those that consider beauty and health of us humans. For thousands of years people have hunted sharks for their leather, fins, oil, teeth and meat. The skin of the shark is twice as strong as the cow's and has long been used for different leather goods. Fishermen have used the shark's skin as sandpaper, and the patterns on its skin have been used as decoration for various objects (inkwells, candlesticks, knives, card cases…). Theeth have been used as jewelry and needles, as well as spear tops. Shark liver oil used to burn in the streetlamps of Sydney. The Chinese have been eating the shark fin suop for centuries and on everyday basis as an aphrodisiac or the youth elixir. Fibers and cartilage parts are welcome in the soup. It is interesting to note that there's a smaller number of patients suffering from certain forms of cancer (especially breast cancer) in China, Japan and other countries in which shark products are used. Up until World War II shark liver oil had been used as a primary source of natural vitamin A. What's more, the concentration of vitamin A is ten times greater in shark's liver that in un unpopular fish oil. In 1939, when the production of shark liver oil was at its peak, there were 9 million tons of shark cought while today this number exceeds 100 million of sharks a year with a dizzying tendency of fishing being incresed especially in the recent years when the science and medicine have proved through research that shark products can serve as a prevention from and a treatment for people with various diseases. With the emergence of the synthetic vitamin A the need for the natural vitamin from the shark liver oil has stopped. In the recent years when the mankind is again returning to nature and natural pruducts, the need for vitamin A from shark liver oil has continued. The shark is also called the floating nutritious ingredients factory, and not only nutritious. Swedish scientists claim that shark liver oil speeds up the healing of a damaged tissue, produces and regulates the white blood cell count, and Norwegian doctors use it as a remedy against negative effects of radiation. Off the shores of Iceland and New Zealand are the deepest unpolluted waters where the best quality shark liver oils may be found. The depth may reach 1500 to 8500 m. The livers of the sharks are very large, comprising about 30% of the shark's total body weight, and the liver can contain 2250 kg of oil. Other fish have a bladder which helps them swim and rest (float), while sharks don't have a bladder and this function is replaced by its liver abundant in oil. Unfortunately, it doesn't allow for the shark to float and this is the reason why they don't sleep and need to be constantly on the move to keep a certain oxygen level. Their liver is the source of fantastic energy which helps them be constantly on the move for the prey and oxygen. All the fat reserves are in the liver and they enable the shark to survive when the search for the food lasts more than usual. Human's liver function has still not been completely investigated. What is the secret of shark liver oil when it comes to benefits to people's health and treatments of various diseases? What's even more important, how does it prevent from catching a disease?
The puzzling and incredible shark has always fascinated people causing awe and admiration. It was mentioned in 4th century BC and today the shark is a holy being in some countries of the Pacific. The medical benefit coming from the shark is a part of everyone's life and health.