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The cornsnake Stargazer Project.

V

vetdebbie

New member
WE NEED MONEY!

Why?

For some time now we have been working towards producing a genetic test for Stargazing in corns. This is a recessive genetic condition that causes a neurological deficit. It is not unlike the spider head wobble but is consistently present and consistently severe in comparison. These animals can survive, grow and breed but do require special care in order to do so, and so far at least seem to have shortened lifespans. There are several videos kicking around the internet to show it if you are interested.

How?

Phase 1 was to get the cornsnake genome sequenced - this was done as a PhD project at Bangor University, with the help of a few sheds from us and some friends.

Now we are attempting to start a project to identify the gene responsible, and once this is done, a commercial test can be produced that can be run on shed skins by any lab interested in doing so. Unfortunately in order to undertake the initial research to ID the gene, we need funding. By we, I mean the lovely guys at Bangor who will be doing the work. We need to raise about £5000 to fund the project. We have set up a donation system via paypal, but unfortunately we are still around £3000 short of target. And we are running out of time - we need to give the yes or no the Uni very shortly.

So....

Can anyone here help? This a massive forum of people who like corn snakes. This is a subject that has caused some heated debate. I realise that this test is being developed in the UK but if it becomes available, we will be able to conduct it on SHED SKINS. No vet help required for sample testing, easily postable. And the research would be publicly available so the labs in the US could run the tests if they wanted. If everyone on this forum donated $2, we would get a significant way to our total. Adam and I between us are more than happy to top up to get all the way there, but we have already pledged about a grand and can't afford too much more personally.


So people, please please help us to do something that could ultimately COMPLETELY ERADICATE a serious disease for our corns.

I don't know if the mods will allow a link, so I will just say google 'procorns' to find our page and the Stagazer project info is available from there.

Thank you.

Debbie
 
I very much hope we can raise enough. I've been raising awareness for the research at the last Houten expo and will be there again on the next one, hopefully selling some corn calendars to help support the research :)
 
Thank you Nanci - I didn't want to break any forum rules.

There have been several people across Europe who have worked really hard to raise awareness for this issue, and of course we are really grateful to them. But there is also quite a bit of inertia to overcome, not to mention not enough hours in the day!
 
You're right though. If every active member on the forum donated 2 dollars (or whatever they can miss) the research would be up and running in no time. Please donate so we can eradicate this disorder from our lines :)
 
What if you had a raffle at your local show(s)? You can raise a lot of money that way! It doesn't even have to be for live animals- it would be for supplies, books, calendars, gift certificates from breeders or mouse suppliers...You could have a table with the raffle items set out, and people could purchase tickets for $1, and put them in jars next to each item.
 
Could do that, although I would have to buy in supplies first which I currently don't really have the funds for :S Would have to find people to donate
 
T-Shirts would be cool, too. You can do those on Cafe Press. I don't know how that works for your location, though.
 
OK, I'm in. This stargazer thing has been a nagging issue and embarrassment for quite a while now, so maybe it's time to nail it down for anyone concerned about it.

Bear in mind that the donation page is in GBP and not US dollars, so donate accordingly. 1 GBP is roughly equivalent to $1.70US right at the moment.

Good luck with the project.
 
Awesome Rich :) We really need to get the word out there. I've also been trying to contact the guys from Snakebytes to see if they could raise some awareness among their followers, but no luck with that so far.
 
Another place you might try is the reptile report. Too bad Snakebytes isn't byting. I've heard that Brian is really hard to get ahold of at times though.
 
50/50 tickets could work as well....that way there is money coming in to you and always the appeal that someone else is going to win money. No supplies would be needed. Every little bit helps. Good luck!
 
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