Dr Kathy Belov
Genetics of the devil facial tumour disease
Rediscovering Science Videoconference- Feb 2009
Addressing the PFA’s- current Australian scientific research being reported in the media.

Get students to research the background of the deadly facial tumour disease. A good site is
http://www.tassiedevil.com.au/disease.html#know Students can construct a timeline that
summarises the discovery and impact of the disease over the last twenty years. The deadly
facial tumour disease is a rare form of cancer that is contagious. Use the information in the
article to discuss how the disease is transmitted. Extension: Read and discuss what is an
“insurance population”

Deconstruct the ABC website article “Inbred Tassie devils face extinction: study”. Use it to
help students preparing for their School Certificate to revise DNA, genes, genetic diversity
and evolution. Also revise the immune system and how vaccines work. Be able to cite the
work of current Australian female scientist, Dr Kathy Belov .
Go to the ABC website
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/03/2050359.htm?section=australia
Literacy Activity
1. Read the original text. As a class discuss the meaning of the following terms used in the text:

deadly facial tumour disease (cancer)

extinction

genetic diversity and gene profiles

epidemic

immune system

contagious

MHC (major histocompatibility complex) genes

insurance population

DNA

vaccine
2. Re-read the text, discussing the issues raised in terms of strategies to prevent the extinction
of the Tasmanian Devil.
3. Students complete a three level reading guide on the article “Inbred Tassie devils face
extinction: study”
Level one- reading on the lines
Place a tick beside the statements that accurately represent statements from the article.
a) The deadly facial tumour disease is currently decimating the population of
Tasmanian devils._____
b) Researchers are looking for Tasmanian Devils that have similar gene profiles.____
c) Researchers have sampled from devil populations in the west coast and north-west
of Tasmania.____
d) Removal of affected animals from other devils is current important practice._____
e) A short-term solution to the problem of saving the devils is the use of a
vaccine._____
f)
Tasmanian devils are gentle, docile and harmonious animals.______
Level two- reading between the lines to infer what the writer is saying. Place a tick beside
the statements that accurately represent the meaning of the article.
Find evidence from the text to support your opinion.
a) Scientists are considering the use of several strategies to try to save the Tasmanian
devil from extinction._____
b) The Tasmanian devil is succumbing to pressures resulting from European settlement
in Tasmania.______
c) The MHC (major histocompatibility complex) genes are really key genes to the
survival of Tasmanian Devils._____
d) Greater genetic diversity could increase the chances of survival of a species._____
e) Scientists are puzzled as to why the MHC genes in Tasmanian Devils lack
diversity._____
f)
Dr Kathy Belov is studying DNA to get a picture of the long-term changes in genetic
diversity.______
g) Their lack of immunity means that the facial tumour disease spreads rapidly through
populations of Devils.______
h) The sole hope for survival of Tasmanian Devils in the long-term is the rapid removal
of affected individuals.
Level three- reading beyond the lines - what does the author believe?- relating knowledge
to other contexts. Place a tick beside the statements that accurately represent the article.
Find evidence from the text to support your opinion.
a) Scientists are optimistic about their chances of saving the Tasmanian devil._____
b) Scientists are not greatly concerned about whether the Tasmanian Devils survive or
become extinct._____
c) Understanding the genetics of a species has little relevance to whether they survive
or become extinct._____