Gene sequencing unveils the mystery of "Lonely George" huge and longevity
December 5, 2018 Source: Science and Technology Daily Author: Zhang Meng Ran
Window._bd_share_config={ "common":{ "bdSnsKey":{ },"bdText":"","bdMini":"2","bdMiniList":false,"bdPic":"","bdStyle":" 0","bdSize":"16"},"share":{ }};with(document)0[(getElementsByTagName('head')[0]||body).appendChild(createElement('script')) .src='http://bdimg.share.baidu.com/static/api/js/share.js?v=89860593.js?cdnversion='+~(-new Date()/36e5)];According to two papers published online by the British "Nature, Ecology and Evolution" on the 4th, the recent genome sequencing of scientists at Yale University in the United States has promoted humans' two giant tortoises (including an important symbol of global species conservation) - "Lonely George" "The understanding of the path of body shape, longevity and evolution and help to save other species that are endangered."
"Lonely George" is considered to be the rarest animal in the world. It is the last iconic member of the now-extinct Pinto Island tortoise in the Galapagos Islands. It was the only individual known in the family since it was discovered in 1971 until death was confirmed in 2012.
This time, Yale University researchers Carlos Lepe-Odin, Adal Giza Kakoon and colleagues performed genome sequencing of "Lonely George" and an Aldabra turtle. The Aldabra tortoise is the only remaining species of tortoise in the Indian Ocean. By comparing the genomes of other closely related species, the team discovered positive selection markers and expansion markers for gene families involved in metabolic regulation and immune response. Scientists believe that these markers may be associated with the huge body size and longevity of the above tortoises.
Longevity organisms are theoretically at higher risk of cancer, but the researchers found that the tumor suppressor genes of turtles have expanded compared to other vertebrates, and giant tortoises have been found in two genes that are known to overexpress cancer. Specificity changes. Although these findings suggest that there may be a giant tortoise-specific cancer mechanism, tumors are very rare in turtles, so further research is needed to determine whether these genomic features are associated with tumor development.
The researchers concluded that the data will help humans understand the biology of giant tortoises, reveal their distinctive body shape, longevity and evolution, and more importantly, it will promote human protection in the Galapagos Islands. Other giant tortoises, avoiding them repeating the mistakes of "Lonely George."
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