Tasmanian Devils' Future Brighter

Now that scientists understand the facial tumour disease which affects the Tasmanian devil population on the island, they feel that they can manage the spread of the disease and safeguard the population. Researchers have found that the malignant tumours are infectious and spread from devil to devil by biting and fighting, feeding and mating. Cancerous tumour caused by an infectious cell-line is very unusual. Previously, the spread was believed to be viral or air-borne which would have made the disease much more difficult to manage.