Skip to main content
BIG CATS EVOLVED AS TIGERS
In a first, scientists have mapped the tiger genome, including that of the Bengal Tiger, and identified genetic mutations that helped the big cat evolve to become a top predator. Scientists also sequenced the genomes of the lion and snow leopard, in an effort to conserve and protect the endangered species. The study provides clues to how big cats evolved to become top predators with superior muscle strength and a carnivorous diet, 'BBC News' reported. Researchers found that the tiger shares 96 per cent of its genes with the house cat. The only cat to have its DNA mapped was the domestic one. Researchers led by Yun Sung Cho at the Personal Genomics Institute, Genome Research Foundation in Suwon, South Korea, sequenced the genome of a Siberian tiger. The individual, Taegeuk, is a nine-year-old male from Everland Zoo in South Korea. The team then sequenced the DNA of four other big cats - the African lion, snow leopard, white Bengal tiger and white African lion. This enabled the researchers to compare how the genes matched up in different members of the cat family. Genetic signatures show how big cats gained their superior muscle strength, the ability to digest large amounts of meat and a keen sense of smell. The research also gives genetic clues to how the white lion gained its pale coat and how the snow leopard adapted to the snowy mountain ranges. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ANIL AND FAMILY

Chairman Reliance, ADAG, Anil Ambani's family members (left to right) mother Kokilaben, wife Tina and son Anshul.
Post a Comment
Read more

MEDICAL NEGLEGENCE PUT CONSUMER FORA BUSY

YEAR 2013 REVIEW Cases related to deficiency in services by railways, airlines and automobile majors kept the various consumer fora in the country busy while they also dealt sternly with rising instances of medical negligence and "black sheep" in the health sector in 2013. Doctors and hospitals got a stern message from consumer fora, which asked the Centre and the Medical Council of India (MCI) to identify and take action against the "black sheep" in the profession who did not hesitate to put patients' lives at risk for greed. "We can only suggest to MCI to take note of the prevailing atmosphere in the medical profession and identify such black sheep as are responsible for creating an impression in the public mind that they are being milked by greedy doctors. "Government should take steps to protect patients from unscrupulous medical practitioners," the East Delhi District Consumer Forum had said while directing a city-based clinic to pay...
Post a Comment
Read more

MH 370 CRASH AREA NOT INDIAN OCEAN

The search for the missing Malaysian jet suffered yet another blow today after Australia ruled out a large area in the Indian Ocean where four acoustic signals were detected as the final resting place of the plane. The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Bluefin-21, completed its last mission searching the remaining areas in the vicinity of the acoustic signals detected in early April by the Towed Pinger Locator deployed from the Australian ship Ocean Shield. "The data collected on yesterday's mission has been analysed. As a result, the Joint Agency Coordination Centre can advise that no signs of aircraft debris have been found by the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle since it joined the search effort," the Joint Agency Coordination Centre that is leading the search said. "The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has advised that the search in the vicinity of the acoustic detections can now be considered complete and in its professional judgment, the area can now b...
Post a Comment
Read more