Deadly disease spread by Tasmanian devils is evolving

An infectious cancer that affects the Tasmanian devil has split into different lineages over the past two decades, according to a new study published by PLOS. Understanding the evolution of this disease may explain why Tasmanian devils are vanishing and inform efforts to help protect these endangered animals.  "Devil facial tumor 1 (DFT1) is a transmissible cancer affecting Tasmanian devils, marsupial carnivores endemic to the Australian island of Tasmania," wrote the study authors. "Spread between devils by the transfer of living cancer cells through biting, DFT1 …