Showing posts tagged genetics
The details of how mice burrow appear to be driven by genetics and not through learning, researchers report. The study’s key subjects were more than 300 oilfield mice (Peromyscus polionotus), which are known to make burrows into the ground toward a nest, and then an “escape route” from the nest to just below the surface, which they can break through easily in the case of danger. They were cross-bred with deer mice, a closely related species (P maniculatus) that is known to make shorter burrows, without the extra escape route. The two species of mice were successively bred, and those hybrids built long, two-tunnel burrows like oilfield mice - showing that the behaviour is a “dominant” trait. read more  View high resolution

The details of how mice burrow appear to be driven by genetics and not through learning, researchers report.

The study’s key subjects were more than 300 oilfield mice (Peromyscus polionotus), which are known to make burrows into the ground toward a nest, and then an “escape route” from the nest to just below the surface, which they can break through easily in the case of danger.

They were cross-bred with deer mice, a closely related species (P maniculatus) that is known to make shorter burrows, without the extra escape route.

The two species of mice were successively bred, and those hybrids built long, two-tunnel burrows like oilfield mice - showing that the behaviour is a “dominant” trait. read more 

African spiny mouse can regrow lost skin Researchers report today in Nature that whereas normal laboratory mice (Mus musculus) grow scar tissue when their skin is removed, African spiny mice can regrow complete suites of hair follicles, skin, sweat glands, fur and even cartilage [something no other mammal can do]. read the full paper in Nature here View high resolution

African spiny mouse can regrow lost skin

Researchers report today in Nature that whereas normal laboratory mice (Mus musculus) grow scar tissue when their skin is removed, African spiny mice can regrow complete suites of hair follicles, skin, sweat glands, fur and even cartilage [something no other mammal can do].

read the full paper in Nature here

pay no heed to the latter View high resolution

pay no heed to the latter

(Source: twtrsymphony)

(Reblogged from erikgandalfcanton)
“
I know that the molecules in my body are traceable to phenomena in the cosmos. That makes me want to grab people on the street and say: ‘Have you HEARD THIS?
Neil DeGrasse Tyson

(Source: huffpostscience)

(Reblogged from braingasmic)

real science

shitsaidatoutreach:

boy: so…how many things have you personally cloned? 

me: um, well none actually, I’m not that kind of scientist

boy: but I thought you were a scientist, and plus you work at a science place

me: well yes, but there are very specific scientists who study cloning

boy: hmm, so you are a scientist, but you don’t clone anything…you don’t sound like a scientist

(Reblogged from shitsaidatoutreach)
The new study tested modern and ancient mouse remains from the sites of known Viking colonies and found the same telltale pattern, adding weight to the idea that the mice were brought by Viking colonizers.

The new study tested modern and ancient mouse remains from the sites of known Viking colonies and found the same telltale pattern, adding weight to the idea that the mice were brought by Viking colonizers.

jtotheizzoe: printsandthings: Genetic inheritance of color. Flower petals From Hans Rasmuson’s studies of flower petal inheritance patterns in Godetia, circa 1920 View high resolution

jtotheizzoe:

printsandthings:

Genetic inheritance of color. Flower petals

From Hans Rasmuson’s studies of flower petal inheritance patterns in Godetia, circa 1920

(Reblogged from jtotheizzoe)