#878: Dr Evelyn Merrill: Determining Genetic Predisposition to CWD

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Dr. Evelyn Merrill is an expert in Chronic Wasting Disease among deer.  

One project she’s participating in involves taking muscle from deer  killed by hunters and determining the animal’s genetics.

DR EVELYN MERRILL:    And there are certain  aleels that we have found are associated with either resistance to the disease, or vulnerability to the disease.  Now, resistance might be something along the lines that, you can get the disease but you don’t die as quickly from the disease if you’re of a particular genetic makeup.  Now that might seems good at first glance, but what could happen, even though they’re not dying as soon, they actually are spreading it much more widely during their lifetime.  Whereas if they had died much more quickly, they would not be infecting as many animals, or even in transmitting it to the environment.  

Dr Merrill says how the deer’s genetics interact with Chronic Wasting Disease will help scientists determine the impact of the disease over time.  

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In March, 2016 the consolidation of Alberta Innovates was announced and on November 1, a single, integrated innovation powerhouse, Alberta Innovates, was formed. Two applied research subsidiaries – Innotech Alberta and C-Fer Technologies –  serve public and private sector interests.

The Alberta Innovates system was first created in January 2010, as part of an overall innovation framework developed within the Alberta Research and Innovation Act. At that time, four corporations were established:

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The Alberta Innovates system has a 90-year legacy. Our expertise is built on the successes of:

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Program Date: 2017-06-20