Findlay, Ohio - Dr. Bethany Henderson-Dean, assistant professor of biology at UF, will present a lecture on “The Impact of Chronic Wasting Disease and Mad Cow Disease in the United States” on Friday, Nov. 18 at 3:30 p.m. in the Martin Lecture Hall located in the Brewer Science Building.

Diseases, such as Chronic Wasting Disease and Mad Cow Disease, are neurodegenerative diseases that are caused by prions, which are normal proteins found in the body that have taken on an altered form and thus an altered function.

According to Henderson-Dean, there have been two cases of mad cow disease in the United States to date. “There has been a case in West Virginia and in New York reported in September of this year,” Henderson-Dean explained. “Because of this, there have been many countries that will not accept meat or cow products from us. Chronic Wasting Disease is found in elk and deer populations. This is a disease that spreads in wild populations, and it’s really hard, or impossible to contain.”

She has presented her research at Heidelberg College and at the National American Society of Mammalogists conference. Henderson-Dean holds a bachelor of science degree in biology from Heidelberg College, and a Ph.D. in biological sciences from Ohio University.

For more information on this free, public lecture, contact the College of Sciences at 419-434-4869.