Dog DNA influences face shape

May 26, 2017 

A study of dog DNA has revealed a genetic mutation linked to flat face shapes such as those seen in pugs and bulldogs. 

The research reveals new insights into the genes that underpin skull formation in people and animals.

Skull development

Scientists say their findings also shed light on the causes of birth defects that affect babies' head development in the womb.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute analysed DNA samples from 374 pet dogs of various pedigree and mixed breeds. The dogs were being treated at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

Animal scans

All of the animals underwent body scans as part of their care, producing detailed 3-dimensional images of the dogs' heads.

These high-resolution images – called CT scans – enabled the researchers to take precise measurements of the shape of the dog's skull.

"Our results shed light on the molecular nature of this type of skull form that is so common and popular among dogs," says Dr Jeffrey Schoenebeck.

By comparing the dogs' genetic information with measurements of their skulls, the team were able to pinpoint DNA variations that are associated with different head shapes.

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Genetic mutation in whale eyes may increase mortality risks

Date: October 24, 2016

Source: Florida Institute of Technology

Scientists have found that a genetic mutation in the eyes of right whales that hampers their ability to see in bright light may make them more susceptible to fatal entanglements in fishing gear, one of the major causes of death for this critically endangered mammal.

The study of this whale species, which numbers less than 500 individuals remaining in the Western Atlantic Ocean, may also help scientists better understand how vision works in other mammals, including people.

Florida Institute of Technology doctoral student Lorian Schweikert and her adviser, Michael Grace, professor of neuroscience and senior associate dean of science, worked with Jeffry Fasick, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Tampa, to characterize this newly discovered mutation in Northern right whales and Bowhead whales. Their results suggest that this mutation may seriously harm the whales' ability to visually avoid entanglement.

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Mice with 'mohawks' help scientists link autism to two biological pathways in brain

"Aha" moments are rare in medical research, scientists say. As rare, they add, as finding mice with Mohawk-like hairstyles. But both events happened in a lab at NYU Langone Medical Center, months after an international team of neuroscientists bred hundreds of mice with a suspect genetic mutation tied to autism spectrum disorders.

Almost all the grown mice, the NYU Langone team observed, had sideways,"overgroomed" hair with a highly stylized center hairline between their ears and hardly a tuft elsewhere. Mice typically groom each other's hair.

Researchers say they knew instantly they were on to something, as the telltale overgrooming—a repetitive motor behavior—had been linked in other experiments in mice to the brain condition that prevents children from developing normal social, behavioral, cognitive, and motor skills. People with autism, the researchers point out, exhibit noticeably dysfunctional behaviors, such as withdrawal, and stereotypical, repetitive movements, including constant hand-flapping, or rocking.

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Horse gaits controlled by genetic mutation spread by humans

Date: February 4, 2014

Source: Wiley

Summary: From the Faroe Pony to the Spanish Mustang, fewer animals have played such a central role in human history as the horse. New research reveals that a horse's gait, an attribute central to its importance to humans, is influenced by a genetic mutation, spread by humans across the world.

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Piglet born with two mouths

A piglet has been born in China with two mouths and three eyes.

Owner Zhang Hongxiu said the piglet was one of a litter born in Jiangyou, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Besides two eyes on each side of the head, the piglet has an extra eye on its forehead.

And its two mouths can suckle milk simultaneously.

Zhang said the newborn piglet weighed only 0.7kg, half the weight of a normal newborn piglet.

A local vet said the abnormal piglet was probably the result of genetic mutations and would probably not live long.

http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Piglet_born_with_two_mouths

Black squirrels could outnumber reds in England

Black squirrels could now outnumber reds in England as the genetic mutant of the grey species increases across the country.

The first wild black squirrel was spotted in 1912 outside Letchworth in Hertfordshire after being introduced to the area by a Victorian aristocrat.

The darker animals are the same species as the invasive greys and have slowly been increasing as they interbreed with the larger resident population.

At the moment it is estimated there could be as many as 25,000 in the east of England.

Meanwhile native red squirrel populations have crashed in the last 100 years because of the greys spreading disease and taking over habitat.

It is thought there could be less than 30,000 left in the north of England and the islands around the south coast, where the population has held out.

The first wild black squirrel was spotted in 1912 outside Letchworth in Hertfordshire and has been spreading throughout the area since Photo: ALAMY

Dr Craig Shuttleworth, Senior Adviser at the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, said the growing black population may not risk any reds directly but it highlights the plight of the native species.

“I think the public would be very interested to know there is a very rare grey squirrel with a black coat and there now could be more of them than reds in England.”

The RSST is trying to boost numbers of reds in the north of England and Cornwall by trapping and killing greys and improving management of forestry.

Dr Shuttleworth pointed out that all greys, whether albino or the black mutation, could carry pox that kills reds and damage trees.

“Whether it is a grey squirrel that is white or black, they are all invasive species and should not be encouraged.”

Relatively little is known about black squirrels in England.

It is believed the current population spread from a few animals released by the Duke of Bedford at Woburn.

It has been reported black mutations have more testosterone and are therefore more aggressive and attractive to females, however there is very little evidence to support this.

To find out more about the population and habits of black squirrels, Helen McRobie, Lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences at Anglia Ruskin, has launched a survey to find out how widespread the squirrels have become.

She pointed out that the blacks are still far away from any population of reds but the research will also show if they would ever be more or less of a risk to the native species.

“The aim of the Black Squirrel Project is to gather data on the geographical range of the grey and black squirrel in the British Isles, and the data may help explain why the grey squirrel has proved to be such a successful invader in the UK. Therefore it would be great if as many people as possible can visit the website and submit their sightings,” she said.

To report a sighting of a black squirrel go to www.blacksquirrelproject.orgto help map the population of this invading species.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9049333/Black-squirrels-could-outnumber-reds-in-England.html

Not on the menu at Wegmans: rare yellow lobster

Employees of a Rochester-area Wegmans stumbled upon one of nature’s anomalies when sorting through seafood—a rare yellow lobster. How rare, you ask? It’s a one-in-30 million find!

Wegmans tweeted about the golden crustacean, noting that it was donated to the Aquarium of Niagara. According to the Pittsford store’s Facebook page, the lobster stood out from the other creatures in
Monday’s seafood shipment because of its unique hue. The average lobster usually sports a dark greenish brown color, but these yellow fellows are the result of a genetic mutation. An adorable genetic mutation!

It should be no surprise that Wegmans decided to donate the oddity to an aquarium. Just a few months back, Wegmans got a shout-out from Greenpeace for drastically improving the selection of sustainable seafood. Another big high-five for Weggies.

I’m particularly fond of this lobster—more so than other underwater insects!—because it’s the same color as my car. You’ll know it when you see it driving around Buffalo.

http://home.buffalo.com/grub-pub/blog/not-on-the-menu-at-wegmans-rare-yellow-lobster/

Duck has three legs - and four feet

A farmer in China has spoken of his surprise after one of his ducks turned out to have three legs and four feet.

Yang Fuyong, of Linchuan County, Guilin, southern China's Guangxi Province, said the duck was one of a batch of 600 he had bought as ducklings.

While vaccinating them, he noticed one of them had one too many legs - and two too many feet.

He has since sold the ducks but kept the unusual one for a pet.

"I have been raising ducks for more than 10 years but I have never seen anything like this before," he said.

"It has an extra leg behind the other two and that leg has two feet. I'm going to carry on raising it to see how it does."

An official at the local livestock husbandry station said the duck was almost certainly the result of a genetic mutation.
http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Duck_has_three_legs_and_four_feet