Transmissible Cancer In Tasmanian Devils

An ecosystem contain biological communities and abiotic factors that interact with each other. However, Introduced pest species in Australia have always been a major issue due to the unique ecosystems that have developed, undisturbed over millions of years, due to Australia's geographical isolation. This is especially evident in the introduction the European red fox in Australia, which has prompt negative changes to the population of the Long-nosed Bandicoot due to the predation by these foxes in the Field of mars and around Australia. The disruption the fox foxes have on the Long-nosed bandicoot can also result in sever cascading effects on the rest of the ecosystem, including abiotic factors like the soil and biotic factors like other native flora and fauna

Recently, DNA testing has been employed to create a genetic database of endangered animal species. Using this information, scientists have even cloned animals.

The red wolf is listed as endangered under the U. S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) (United States Public Law No. 93-205; United States Code Title 16 Section 1531 et seq.). Wild red wolves inhabiting the north eastern North Carolina (NENC), USA recovery area and a single island propagation site (St. Vincent NWR, Florida) are designated as experimental non-essential populations under Section 10(j) of the ESA. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists the red wolf’s status as critically endangered.

Cancer is a term used for diseases in which irregular cells divide without any control and have the capability to penetrate and infect normal body tissue through the blood and lymph system. Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in the United States, exceeded barely by heart disease. According to the CDC Cancer Statistics and Data, there were more than 1.45 million people diagnosed with various kind of cancer between 1999 and 2007 and out of those more than 562,000 people died due to cancer (cdc.gov, 2012). Currently there are more than 200 different types of cancer that have been discovered. Cancer could be

On April 25,1857 I Riley J Petersen found a species man has never seen before. I was off the coast of Australia, on an island called Tasmania. At first I thought I had stumbled across a pack of wild dogs, but as I got closer I realized that these are no dog.

Cancer is the second largest cause of death in Australia and accounts for approximately 27% of all deaths. Risk factors generally include exposure to sun, poor diet and smoking. Many types of cancer such as skin cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer are easily preventable by early detection and awareness; however, some cancers cannot be prevented.

Arnold, P. (2009, December 4). Endangered Species Tasmanian Devil: Low Genetic Diversity as a Factor of the Tasmanian Devil as an Endangered Species. Retrieved March 8, 2015, from http://www.brighthub.com/science/genetics/articles/13897.aspx

The Melomys rubicola, more commonly known as the Bramble Cay Melomys, is a breed of rodent that inhabits the Torres Straight Islands of Northern Queensland. It is ranked as critically endangered and is one of Australia’s most isolated mammals. With an estimated population of approximately 93, it is imperative that action is taken as soon as possible to conserve this species so that its numbers do not plummet further.

Evolutionary origins of the eastern wolves have been a topic of debate among scientists and conservationists for many years, whether their evolution is independent of grey wolves and coyotes. Currently, eastern wolves are mainly identified as a subspecies of Grey wolves or as a hybrid, resulting from interbreeding between grey wolves and coyotes. Following the genotypic cluster species concept, this paper identifies eastern wolves (Canis Lycaon) as a distinct species because they show little similarities in genomic data with the gray wolves and coyotes and carry Y-chromosome haplotypes that are unique to eastern wolves only.

DFTD spreads due to biting between animals during mating or feeding. The cancer cells themselves are the infective agent, as opposed to a transmissible virus that leads to Tumor formation. in the case of the devils (Pearse et al., 2012), the genes that could differentiate between own and foreign cells are so similar between the cancer and host, that the devil’s immune system does not identify the cancer,

Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) populations on the island of Tasmania have experienced a rapid decline during the past twenty years due to the spread of a cancer called Devil Facial Tumor Disease or DFTD. DFTD is a deadly contagious cancer that is characterized by red oozing lesions or tumors that form on the face and mouth of the Tasmanian devil. The cancer spreads from one devil to another when a DFTD infected devil bites a healthy devil thereby infecting the open wounds with cancer cells. Once contracted the devil dies within six months due to infection or starvation because the tumors in mouth hinder feeding. However, researches lead by biologist Andrew Storfer have discovered that some Tasmanian devil populations have evolved a

When people think of a Tasmanian devil, they think of a crazy spinning animal on Loony Tunes. The Loony Tunes’ character is fierce, terrifying, and slightly funny. As the animal spins, it destroys everything in its path. Of course, a cartoon character is not exactly a reliable source to base a Tasmanian devil’s characteristics on. Tasmanian devils are one of God’s amazing, yet strange creatures. In order to understand the significance of Tasmanian devils, one must understand their behaviors, their living habitats, and their need for survival.

Tasmanian devils have been rapidly decreasing in population since the year 1998. The Tasmanian devil only lives in the country Tasmania. Recently scientists have noticed that the devils have been suffering from a deadly disease called devil facial tumor disease. The tumor forms on the animals face or neck and causes them to not be able to eat or drink. The disease was first reported on the animals in 1998 in the north eastern region of Tasmania.

One thing I learned in researching cancer is that in order for cancer to appear in our body it has to avoid being detected by our immune system. The cancer cells have to avoid being detected by the immune system because if they are detected the immune system will try and fight off the abnormality. If your immune system does not detect the abnormality in cells, the cancer cells will grow and reproduce causing cancer to spread rapidly. The cancer cells that are not detected they can create colonies and spread rapidly.

The Amur Leopard is one of the most critically endangered big cats in the world. The Turtleback