Red squirrels showing pox antibodies...

[Sean Aaron]

For those concerned about the plight of our native red squirrels, some positive news that some are forming antibodies, so that a vaccine might be developed to save them from further decline:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7573535.stm

Scientists have found that some red squirrels have developed immunity to a disease that has ravaged their numbers.


The pox is transmitted by grey squirrels; but while greys suffer no ill effects from it, if a red catches the virus it will be dead within weeks.


The findings, published in EcoHealth, suggest a vaccine could now help to save red squirrels from annihilation.

 

[Brolan]

For those concerned about the plight of our native red squirrels, some positive news that some are forming antibodies, so that a vaccine might be developed to save them from further decline:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7573535.stm

Scientists have found that some red squirrels have developed immunity to a disease that has ravaged their numbers.


The pox is transmitted by grey squirrels; but while greys suffer no ill effects from it, if a red catches the virus it will be dead within weeks.


The findings, published in EcoHealth, suggest a vaccine could now help to save red squirrels from annihilation.

But isn't this how genetic selection is supposed to work? The red squirrels that aren't immune will die off. The ones that are will thrive and fill the niche left by the others.

 

[Sean Aaron]

Yes, but the grey squirrels are an alien species introduced in the 19th century by humans; the vaccine is an attempt to minimise the impact of that mistake. I'm sure the reds would survive without the vaccine, but this would preserve greater numbers of them.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Yes, but the grey squirrels are an alien species introduced in the 19th century by humans; the vaccine is an attempt to minimise the impact of that mistake. I'm sure the reds would survive without the vaccine, but this would preserve greater numbers of them.

Go watch "The X Files: Fight the Future" as I just did coincidentally and re-read that sentence again. Has quite an effect on it!