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Post by rugbytoffee on Aug 8, 2016 20:21:46 GMT
Snakes owe their long, slithery bodies to a single gene, research has shown. The Oct4 gene regulates stem cells and affects the growth of the middle part, or trunk, of a vertebrate's body. In snakes, a quirk of reptilian evolution has resulted in Oct4 remaining "switched on" for longer than usual during embryonic development. Dr Rita Aires, from the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia (IGC) in Lisbon, Portugal, said: "The formation of different body regions works as a strong-arm contest of genes. Genes involved in trunk formation need to start ceasing activity so that genes involved in tail formation can start working. "In the case of snakes, we observed that the Oct4 gene is kept active during a longer period of embryonic development, which explains why snakes have such a long trunk and a very short tail." An evolutionary change caused the Oct4 gene to be placed next to a DNA region that kept it in an "on" state in the snake embryo, said the researchers.The discovery was made while studying mice that had unusually long or short trunks. Understanding the role of Oct4 in keeping the snake's body long may shed new light on spinal cord regeneration, the scientists claimed.
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Snakes
Aug 8, 2016 23:47:48 GMT
Post by Avinalaff on Aug 8, 2016 23:47:48 GMT
Snakes are fascinating.
I watched this last night funnily enogh:
and there's another here:
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65years
Dodgy Goalkeeper
Posts: 941
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Snakes
Aug 9, 2016 5:50:07 GMT
Post by 65years on Aug 9, 2016 5:50:07 GMT
Not for me! Thank you.
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Post by dorf on Aug 9, 2016 11:05:34 GMT
No need to stick your fingers up at him cause you don't like his post.
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65years
Dodgy Goalkeeper
Posts: 941
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Snakes
Aug 9, 2016 13:03:09 GMT
Post by 65years on Aug 9, 2016 13:03:09 GMT
Sorry about my new Avatar dorf, I can't stand snakes, just like some people can't stand spiders....... I've now changed my avatar to something more respectable.
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