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RSB Director's seminar series

Tasmanian devils are currently under the threat of extinction in the wild due to a transmissible tumour known as devil facial tumour (DFT1) disease.

Extensive genetic characterisation of tumours from different individuals has supported the theory that the tumour cells themselves are the infectious agent.

Cases of transmissible tumours are rare but it appears that a second transmissible facial tumour (DFT2) has been identified in individuals from southern Tasmania. DFT2 is genetically distinct from DFT1 and also appears to be of a different cellular origin.

The emergence of a second transmissible tumour raises the questions about the origin of transmissible tumours. Is there something about devils that makes them susceptible to developing these diseases?

Dr Janine Deakin, Associate Professor in the Institute for Applied Ecology at the University of Canberra, will discuss the work her team has been doing on both transmissible tumours.