On Aug 24, 2007, at 12:39 PM, Sukie Crandall wrote:
>Dr. Michelle Hawkins of UC Davis and one of her ferret health research
>teams ... has found MEN (Multiple Endocrinological Neoplasia) genetics
>in some ferrets...

>Dr. Bob Wagner of Pitt (U. of Pittsburgh) has found in some ferrets a
>P53 genetic variant which reduces the ability to fight malignancies so
>those little, early ones which bodies often fight off have more of a
>chance to take hold and continue.

Excellent! I must admit, my stint of doing cancer research was a long
time ago, in the early 80's, so my data is very much out of date. I'm
glad to hear that this sort of cancer/ genetic research is indeed being
done for ferrets. You are so good at keeping up with things, Sukie --
your sig may say "(not a vet)" but you are a wonderful reference
librarian (and I have the highest regard for reference librarians).

Even if we have identified some specific genes, though, I imagine we
are still far from the day when a breeder can take a ferret kit and
have it tested for these genes -- which is what breeders would need to
do if genetic testing is to replace just watching the parents to see
if they develop problems.

Thanks for the info!
-Claire

PS and for the new information on "longevity genes" -- do you have a
link to that full article?

[Posted in FML 5710]