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SUMMARY:Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease - Hannah Bender\, Research S
 chool of Biological Sciences\, The Australian National University
DTSTART:20080402T153000Z
DTEND:20080402T163000Z
UID:TALK11143@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:9054
DESCRIPTION:Tasmanian devil Facial Tumour Disease\n\nThe Tasmanian devil (
 Sarcophilus harrisii)\, is the world’s largest remaining marsupial carni
 vore and is endemic to the island state of Tasmania\, Australia.  Wild pop
 ulations are at risk of extinction since the recent emergence of a terrify
 ing transmissible cancer\, Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). DFTD is cha
 racterised by the appearance of large\, locally invasive tumours on the fa
 ce\, neck and mouth of affected animals.  Metastasis to abdominal and thor
 acic viscera is common and mean survival time after the appearance of init
 ial lesions is less than six months.  Mortality rates are 100% and no dise
 ase resistance has been reported.\n  \nRemarkably\, all tumours share an i
 dentical\, highly rearranged karyotype\, regardless of the sex of the anim
 al or progression of the tumour.  Several chromosomes\, including both sex
  chromosomes are apparently lost\, presumably rearranged in four unidentif
 ied marker chromosomes.  This suggests that\, rather than arising spontane
 ously in affected animals\, DFTD is a clonal cell line transmitted between
  animals by biting.\n \nWe are investigating the extent of the chromosome 
 rearrangements in the tumour using chromosome painting.  By identifying br
 eakage and fusion points we hope to determine which genes may have been di
 srupted to give DFTD its extraordinary malignant characteristics.  We are 
 complementing cytogenetic studies with molecular approaches including cDNA
  and miRNA sequencing with the aim of identifying tumour pathways and biom
 arkers for early diagnosis\, therapy or vaccination. \n
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre 1 - Department of Veterinary Medicine
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