tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post1204125823290739514..comments2024-03-24T05:50:07.033-07:00Comments on Biologizing: Saving the Tasmanian Devil PopulationPeter Houlihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-39584080907059326842013-02-17T12:52:00.589-08:002013-02-17T12:52:00.589-08:00It is believed that the tumor originated in the Sc...It is believed that the tumor originated in the Schwann cells of one devil because analysis of DFTD cells show that all strains are related. The infectious tumor then spread to other parts of the population having disastrous consequences. The fact that the disease started only on the eastern part of Tasmania and spread out from this area also proves that the DFTD strain started in only one individual.<br /><br />Poya Jafari (2)Poya Jafarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757472081899929674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-32767698629451299802013-02-17T12:45:46.964-08:002013-02-17T12:45:46.964-08:00The karyotypes of DFTD and CTVT are similar which ...The karyotypes of DFTD and CTVT are similar which is interesting. Both diseases are also similar because they are caused by tumor cells that are not genetically related to the host animal but instead these tumor cells are a distinct unicellular pathogen. It's thought that these cancers originated in a single individual and spread to other hosts. Poya Jafarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757472081899929674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-23763927540413384292013-02-17T10:42:16.365-08:002013-02-17T10:42:16.365-08:00According to the article, experts do not think tha...According to the article, experts do not think that the introduction of the Tasmanian devils will affect the native species on Maria Island but they would be monitoring the ecosystem just in case. <br /><br />Poya Jafari (2)Poya Jafarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757472081899929674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-53043801750925245342013-02-17T10:39:48.351-08:002013-02-17T10:39:48.351-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Poya Jafarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757472081899929674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-16180422628647714472013-02-17T10:38:28.239-08:002013-02-17T10:38:28.239-08:00I think research into DFTD definitely has the pote...I think research into DFTD definitely has the potential for scientist to learn more about the characteristics of cancer and hopefully this could lead to treatments that could manage other forms of cancer as well. Poya Jafarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757472081899929674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-74265347062613433922013-02-17T10:33:36.362-08:002013-02-17T10:33:36.362-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Poya Jafarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757472081899929674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-8422688851484998952013-02-15T19:42:40.066-08:002013-02-15T19:42:40.066-08:00How is the cancer contagious? So tumor cells someh...How is the cancer contagious? So tumor cells somehow get in the bite wound? Once this happens they travel through the blood and start growing on the face? What stops the devil's immune system from rejecting these foreign cells? The article did not say anything about a viral vector, as is the case in other "contagious" cancers,such as cervical-cancer caused by HPV. <br />It's scary to think of cancers spreading through social behaviors as in these two examples.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12699837191587599723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-74550984593313840182013-02-15T19:01:01.150-08:002013-02-15T19:01:01.150-08:00I did some research to come up with the origin of ...I did some research to come up with the origin of this cancer, and why this cancer has been only found in Tasmanian Devils population. I was not able to find my answer, but realized that it was originated in the schwann cell of a single devil, most likely a female. The tumor cells are genetically identical in all the devils and these tumor cells are similar to the ones in Schwann cells. Hopefully, the Australian biologists will be able to conserve the population since devils live only about 8 years!<br /><br />Setareh Sepasi (1)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-4917695551737061632013-02-15T11:59:16.365-08:002013-02-15T11:59:16.365-08:00It is amazing that there are types of cancer that ...It is amazing that there are types of cancer that are contagious! This proves how complex and mysterious cancer still is in the modern world. Do you think that since there is such little genetic diversity within this species that this epidemic will occur in the future on Maria Island?<br /><br />Lindsey Dugas (1)Peter Houlihanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-50374258295370476222013-02-15T11:10:39.521-08:002013-02-15T11:10:39.521-08:00Very interesting article, especially relating the ...Very interesting article, especially relating the DTFD and the fact that it is contagious. Are the species of contagious cancers found in dogs common? And do these two diseases have similar origins or related strains of the same cancer?<br />Bryan CohoonPeter Houlihanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-29272614055395811382013-02-15T04:48:52.224-08:002013-02-15T04:48:52.224-08:00I never knew of any cancer being contagious in any...I never knew of any cancer being contagious in any species, that is very interesting. What type of diet do these devils have? I hope they do not prove to be an invasive species on the new island.<br />Tonya SulhamPeter Houlihanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-72412234466935282132013-02-14T19:54:21.440-08:002013-02-14T19:54:21.440-08:00I'm really surprised this cancer is contagious...I'm really surprised this cancer is contagious. It makes me wonder that if its transmitted through the devil's powerful bite, what if the scientists on Maria Island come across an infected devil and get bitten, would it transmit the cancer cells to humans? Its scary to think that if any kind of mistake occurs during this period of bringing the species out of endangerment, humans get bitten and infected with this kind of cancer that can then be transmitted from human to human.<br /><br />Gabrielle Wertheim (3)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15164763114842948637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-18742244426625819652013-02-14T17:05:17.270-08:002013-02-14T17:05:17.270-08:00I am amazed that this cancer is contagious. I hav...I am amazed that this cancer is contagious. I have never heard of a cancer that spreads like this. Do you think that knowledge of how this is spread and metastasizes may bring light upon possible treatments for other kinds of cancer?<br /><br />Ashley Sterpka (1)Peter Houlihanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-52808442608772171032013-02-14T11:13:38.870-08:002013-02-14T11:13:38.870-08:00Do you think that it is possible that when this sp...Do you think that it is possible that when this species is introduced to Maria Island, that they can disrupt other species on that island, who may be endangered as well?<br /><br />Cynthia Bui (1)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-59033982783162231752013-02-14T09:50:47.697-08:002013-02-14T09:50:47.697-08:00Is there any evidence of where this facial tumor f...Is there any evidence of where this facial tumor first originated? Was it caused by the environment or do you think it was from another unrelated species?<br /><br />Kimberly Ty (3)Peter Houlihanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-44147011400731887952013-02-14T08:10:44.762-08:002013-02-14T08:10:44.762-08:00Very interesting. All it takes is something micros...Very interesting. All it takes is something microscopic to eliminate a species. Hopefully a new population will arise and the DTFD will not arise in the new one so they can repopulate and maybe move back to their native island if the rest of the diseased population dies out. <br /><br />Sunni-Lynn Farias (1)Peter Houlihanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-25392152164060665912013-02-14T07:57:51.648-08:002013-02-14T07:57:51.648-08:00Do you have any more information on what ultimatel...Do you have any more information on what ultimately causes fatalities in the animals, as well as fatality rates, and life span after infection?<br /><br />Michael Ball (1)Mike0331https://www.blogger.com/profile/13535353804448441656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-74089236057424108672013-02-14T04:33:17.180-08:002013-02-14T04:33:17.180-08:00This is a great article! It's interesting beca...This is a great article! It's interesting because I had the one about the Tasmanian Tiger and how they went extinct because of human interference, but the Devil is dying of cancer. It must be from being so isolated for thousands of years, and the cancer took advantage of the lack of genetic diversity. I really hope to hear about progress of the Devil after they try to breed a group that are not affected by the cancer and can potentially sustain the population (at least for now)!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15981640823127195741noreply@blogger.com