December 3, 2013
Genomics Reveal The Evolution Of Snakes
A team of scientists from the University of Colorado School of Medicine have discovered a number of rapidly evolving genes in snakes. They say that from changes in metabolism to changes on the molecular level, snakes have evolved more than other species. They found that snakes carry large numbers of proteins with signatures for positive selection in their ancestors. This means that snakes use genes that we all have to do things no other vertebrates can do. For example when a Burmese python eats, they have a massive change in gene expression that majorly increases their heart rate, small intestine, liver and kidneys for digestion. It’s like a horse going from standing to running and the snake hasn’t moved.
[ Read the Article: Extreme Genomic Evolution Discovered In Burmese Pythons ]