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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Devils Breed Earlier to Stave Off Cancer

Attempt to outlast disease could be evolutionary

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(Newser) – Tasmanian devils are reproducing at a younger age to offset a contagious cancer epidemic, the Daily Telegraph reports. The ill-tempered marsupials, suffering from tumors that cut their lifespan in half, are now breeding at age 1 instead of 2 or 3. "We could be seeing evolution occurring before our eyes," one expert told the AP—though the devils may still die off in about 25 years.

A Tasmanian devil searches for food in his enclosure at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, May 21, 2008.
A Tasmanian devil searches for food in his enclosure at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, May 21, 2008.   (AP Photo)
A Tasmanian devil searches for food in his enclosure at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, May 21, 2008.
A Tasmanian devil searches for food in his enclosure at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, May 21, 2008.   (AP Photo)
In this April 10, 2006 file photo, a Tasmanian devil growls at the Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark.
In this April 10, 2006 file photo, a Tasmanian devil growls at the Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark.   (AP Photo)
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radnip
Mar 3, 09 5:15 AM CST
So sad to lose so much diversity, so many interesting creatures. Reply
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