#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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Alberta Innovates

Alberta Innovates is a provincially funded Corporation with a mandate to deliver 21st century solutions for the most compelling challenges facing Albertans. We do this by building on our province’s research and technology development strengths in the core sectors of health, environment, energy, food and fibre and platforms such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and omics. We are working with our partners to diversify Alberta’s economy, improve our environmental performance and enhance our well-being through research and innovation. 

The Alberta Innovates system has roots stretching back almost 90 years

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:

  • Bio Solutions
  • Energy and Environment Solutions
  • Health Solutions
  • Technology Futures.

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

  • Alberta Institute for Agriculture
  • Forestry and the Environment
  • Alberta Agricultural Research Institute
  • Alberta Forestry Research Institute
  • Alberta Life Sciences Institute
  • Alberta Ingenuity
  • Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
  • Alberta Research Council
  • iCORE
  • nanoAlberta
  • Alberta Water Research Institute (AWRI)
  • Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI)
  • Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA).

 

Program Date: 2017-06-20