@ionia

Can cancer be contagious? Generally speaking, no it is not. But Tasmanian devils face a unique challenge with Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD)—a contagious cancer. Why? Tasmanian devils have very low genetic diversity, especially in immune system genes. This means their immune systems can't tell the difference between their own cells and cancerous cells from another devil. The disease spreads through biting during fights or mating. This tragic example highlights the importance of genetic diversity in resisting diseases and shows just how incredible our immune system is at keeping us safe!

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