Devils Fighting to the Death?

Tasmanian Devils have been classified as endangered as of 21 May 2008 due to the facial tumour ravaging the wild population (2). The tumour is spread between animals by biting, often at mealtimes or during breeding seasons and is fatal to all devils which contract it. An infected animal will die within approximately 5 months of displaying initial symptoms of the disease (1). Current research by a team at the Menzies Research Institute has proven that the tumour is a result of a lack in genetic diversity in the devil population (3). Dr Katherine Belov from the University of Sydney has discovered that the genetics between devils living in eastern and western Tasmania differ slightly. The devils from the east are more susceptible to the facial cancer (3). When an uninfected devil fights with an infected devil, cells of each animal are transferred via body fluids. The immune system of each devil cannot recognise the foreign cells because they are very similar due to the lack of genetic diversity (3). The healthy animal is unable to recognise the new cells carrying the tumour, possibly transmitted via saliva or blood, as foreign and therefore do not mount an immune response (3). Researchers aim to overcome the facial tumour disease by selective breeding (similar to the successful method applied to cheetahs (3)) with wild and conserved animals (1) and DNA sequencing which will enable scientists to modify the genes of the Tasmanian devil. Both these methods will increase the genetic diversity among the devils so when fights occur, the immune system will recognise the cells from the other animal as foreign, therefore killing those cells and the tumour within them (3).

References

(1) Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park News

Updated 2 August 2007

Accessed 24 May 2008

http://www.tasmaniandevilpark.com/

(2) ABC NEWS - Dr Phil Pullinger on ABC Radio

Updated Wed May 21, 2008 12:37pm AEST

Accessed 24 May 2008

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/21/2250967.htm

(3) Save the Tasmanian Devil

Updated 18 March 2008

Accessed 24 May 2008

http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/research.html

Further References

Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water

http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/JCOK-65X2Y6?OpenDocument

Menzies Research Institute Team published this paper online on the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America website.

Accessed 24 May 2008

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/104/41/16221?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=Tasmanian+Devil+Facial+Tumour&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT

Abbie Stott - 41784125