Tassie devil mystery deepens
Researchers expected genetics would explain why some Tasmanian devils survive the facial tumour disease that has wiped out 85% of the species, however the study found that wasn't the case. Image: keiichihiki/iStockphoto The degree of genetic difference to a tumour is not a factor in Tasmanian devils contracting the facial tumour disease, according to research led by the University of Sydney.The finding, published today in PLoS, the Public Library of Science journal, surprised researchers and means they will take a different approach in the race to better understand the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a contagious cancer which has already wiped out 85 percent of all Tasmanian devils."We looked at the West Pencil Pine population, in north-western Tasmania because they are the first population to be less severely affected by DFTD than other populations," said Associate Professor Kathy Belov, the senior author of the study from the University's Faculty of Veterinary Science.In...