Tasmanian Devil Research Paper

Hypothesis: The Tasmanian devil is an endangered mammal which will no longer evolve overtime.

Evolution is the state of which living organisms are seen to sophisticate or gradually change overtime. During the late 1700s, Lamarck’s hypothesis suggested that an organism can pass on characteristics that has been acquired during its lifetime to its offspring, known as the inheritance of physical traits. Lamarck used the evolution of the giraffe’s development of physical traits overtime to prove his theory. He proposed that as branches and trees grew taller, the giraffes neck would have to strain over a lifetime which developed elongated necks. A major downfall of his theory was that he could not explain how this might happen, though he discussed a natural tendency to …show more content…
As humans take over the environment of the devils, they are forced to relocate or if staying getting hit by vehicles in the process. To fit the growing population of humans, governments are forced to build new infrastructure over their habitats causing deforestation and a lack of environment for the devils causing death from a lack of food and water. Tasmanian devils have been faced with a dangerous facial tumour disease (DFTD), an infectious cancer that only affects Tasmanian devils. DFTD is transmitted through biting, fighting and is one of the only cancers known to spread as a contagious disease. Currently 90% of the devil population have died from the vicious disease. Once the devil is infected, signs of the disease appear around the mouth, usually in the form of small pimple like lumps. These small blemishes quickly develop into large tumours, primarily on the face and neck and sometimes other parts of the body. The devils soon find it difficult to eat and drink, and usually dies from starvation, dehydration and the breakdown of bodily functions within three months of the initial appearance of

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Tasmanian Devil Research Paper