Curious scientists have sequenced the DNA of the naked mole rat that is found in the deserts of East Africa, and can survive for around 30 years in a harsh environment.

The naked mole, which has wrinkled skin, no hair and out-sized teeth, seems to be immune to a number of deadly diseases like cancer.

Scientists at Liverpool University and Norwich’s Genome Analysis Centre generated a DNA sequence belonging to the naked mole, whose cells earlier showed anti-tumor characteristics that are not found in other rodents.

Scientists expect the new study to allow them understand why cancers develop and multiply in ageing bodies.

Dr. Joao Pedro Magalhaes, who works in the university’s institute of integrative biology, said that the naked-mole had always fascinated scientists but its long lifespan was discovered recently.

Speaking on the topic, Magalhaes said, “We aim to use the naked mole-rat genome to understand the level of resistance it has to disease, particularly cancer. This might give us more clues as to why some animals and humans are more prone to disease than others.”

Mole rats generally live in large groups of up to 300, with only a single reproducing queen, which mates with up to three males, while the remaining males focus on the defence of the group.