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Hope over Tasmanian Devil cancer | Hope over Tasmanian Devil cancer |
(3 days later) | |
Australia experts say a Tasmanian Devil called Cedric could hold the key to the survival of the embattled species. | Australia experts say a Tasmanian Devil called Cedric could hold the key to the survival of the embattled species. |
The world's largest marsupial carnivore is facing extinction from a mystery facial cancer. | The world's largest marsupial carnivore is facing extinction from a mystery facial cancer. |
But scientists say Cedric appears to be naturally resistant to the contagious tumours which have killed half the devil population in Tasmania. | But scientists say Cedric appears to be naturally resistant to the contagious tumours which have killed half the devil population in Tasmania. |
Cedric is the first Tasmanian Devil to have shown any immunity from the disfiguring disease. | Cedric is the first Tasmanian Devil to have shown any immunity from the disfiguring disease. |
Infected animals become so consumed by the cancer they can no longer eat or see and eventually die of starvation. | Infected animals become so consumed by the cancer they can no longer eat or see and eventually die of starvation. |
Breakthrough | Breakthrough |
Cedric was captured in western Tasmania last year, along with his half-brother, Clinky. | Cedric was captured in western Tasmania last year, along with his half-brother, Clinky. |
Both were injected with dead tumours by scientists. Clinky produced no antibodies, but Cedric did and appears to have built-in defences against the mystery illness. | |
The experiments have now moved up a gear. | The experiments have now moved up a gear. |
Researcher Alex Kriess says the pair have had live cancer cells inserted into their faces. | Researcher Alex Kriess says the pair have had live cancer cells inserted into their faces. |
"They haven't developed a tumour so far," he said. "We injected very few cells so it might take a while until they develop anything that we can see." | "They haven't developed a tumour so far," he said. "We injected very few cells so it might take a while until they develop anything that we can see." |
Cedric's apparent resistance to the disease has been seen as a significant breakthrough. | Cedric's apparent resistance to the disease has been seen as a significant breakthrough. |
The facial tumours are decimating devil numbers on Tasmania's east coast. Cedric is from a genetically different population on the other side of the island. | The facial tumours are decimating devil numbers on Tasmania's east coast. Cedric is from a genetically different population on the other side of the island. |
Scientists hope marsupials that share his genetic pattern could also be immune to the cancer or capable of responding to a vaccine. | Scientists hope marsupials that share his genetic pattern could also be immune to the cancer or capable of responding to a vaccine. |
If real progress is not made soon, experts worry that the Tasmanian Devil could be extinct within 20 years. | If real progress is not made soon, experts worry that the Tasmanian Devil could be extinct within 20 years. |
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