While Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) tumours all have the same DNA, the regulatory mechanisms controlling the DNA have changed.

Researchers have found that there are more epigenetic tags (molecules that interact with DNA to change its expression) in the tumours now than there were five years ago. This suggests more genes have been switched off in the tumours.

If these genes are found to make the tumours less aggressive, turning them back on could make the tumours more vulnerable.