Studies explain rich diversity in mammals

December 3, 2021 Nirmal Narayanan Science, Wild Nature 0

Studies explain rich diversity in mammals

New studies by some researchers in the European Molecular Biology Laboratory have unveiled the prime reason behind the rich diversity found in mammals. They also explained the reason behind why a dolphin is not a cat?

Mammals are known for acquiring unique characteristics in their lives even though they have a common ancestor. As per the new research, mammals acquire this uniqueness by re-purposing functional elements through gene regulation.

Studies explain rich diversity in mammals

During the research, the scientists examined genome sequences of 29 mammals, and they compared gene regulation in liver cells among 20 key species.

Paul Flicek, head of Vertebrate Genomics at European Bioinformatics Institute, said their research focuses on evolution re-purposes things that exist in all species.

He clarified by saying that evolution re-purposes things that exist in all species to make each species unique.

See Also:  Webb Telescope Spots Margarita and Vinegar Ingredients Amidst Star Formation

As per Paul, evolution captures the DNA that’s been around for a long time and uses it for gene regulation in specific tissues.

The study of gene regulation in liver cells among 20 key mammal species gave the scientists an insight into how these species diverged millions of years ago.

The researchers succeeded in explaining to turn changes in the genome into differences between species, including the change of protein sequences or by changing the way promoters control that protein expression.

Both these changes can take place at the same time if amino acid sequences start evolving quickly.

This new study has unleashed a new light path for researchers who study mammalian evolution. The scientists aim to explain the functional genetics of many under-explored species by considering this new gene regulation theory.

See Also:  How to use the Coviself, a home test kit for COVID-19

Related Stories:

NASA to launch drought tracking satelliteNASA Confirms Launch Date for Its Massive Moon Rocket How to Format Text with Rich Text Editing Tools for Improved PresentationHow to Format Text with Rich Text Editing Tools for Improved Presentation Afghanistan, Netherlands lead the way as rich tradition of World Cup upsets continue at India 2023Afghanistan, Netherlands lead the way as rich tradition of World Cup upsets continue at India 2023 China mars phobosChina Takes Incredible Close Up Shot of Mars’ Moon Phobos Humans Came To America More Than 20,000 years ago - New StudyHumans Came To America More Than 20,000 years ago – New Study mukesh-ambaniHow Rich Is The Rich? Shocking Wealth Of India’s 1% Rich Club Dementia is a devastating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It causes cognitive impairment, memory loss, and behavioral changes that interfere with daily life. But what are the genetic factors that increase the risk of developing dementia? In a recent study, NIH scientists discovered two key risk factors that are linked to dementia: a rare variant of the APOE gene and a common variant of the TREM2 gene. These genes are involved in the immune system and the clearance of amyloid-beta, a toxic protein that accumulates in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. The researchers analyzed the genomes of more than 6,000 people with dementia and 5,000 healthy controls. They found that people who carried both the APOE and TREM2 variants had a 12-fold higher risk of developing dementia than those who did not. The APOE variant alone increased the risk by 3.8 times, while the TREM2 variant alone increased it by 2.6 times. The study also revealed how these genes interact with each other and with amyloid-beta. The APOE variant reduces the ability of immune cells called microglia to clear amyloid-beta from the brain. The TREM2 variant enhances the inflammatory response of microglia to amyloid-beta, which can damage brain cells and worsen cognitive decline. The findings suggest that targeting these genes or their pathways could be a promising strategy for preventing or treating dementia. The researchers hope that their study will inspire more research on the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to this complex and challenging disease.Unraveling Dementia’s Secrets: NIH Finds Genes That Increase Risk NASA Shares A Beautiful Image Of Solar FlareNASA Shares A Beautiful Image Of Solar Flare
About Nirmal Narayanan 184 Articles
A journalist with over six years of experience in Digital Media specialized in writing stories on science and entertainment. A post-graduate in English Literature, I spend my free time researching paranormal incidents and UFO sightings that happen all across the globe