An international team of scientists today published the first analysis of the genome sequence of Glennie, a female duck-billed platypus from Australia. Because the platypus occupies a unique branch on the tree of life, Glennie's genome could provide important clues about how humans and other mammalian species evolved.
Like all mammals, the platypus nourishes its young with milk. But platypus babies hatch from eggs, a characteristic usually associated with birds and reptiles.
By comparing the platypus genome with the genomes of other animals—including the human, mouse, dog, chicken and green anole lizard—the scientists hope to pinpoint which genes are common to all mammals, and when various traits have appeared or disappeared in the mammalian lineage.
For example, unlike chickens and lizards, all mammals have a good sense of smell—thanks to a large number of genes that code for odor receptors in the nose. The scientists who analyzed the platypus genome found that it has only about half as many genes for odor receptors as other mammals whose genomes have been studied. However, it has a surplus of genes associated with a particular type of odor receptor called the vomeronasal receptor, which may be responsible for helping the platypus detect odors while foraging underwater with its duck-like bill. Studying the apparently aberrant platypus is already yielding hints about our own evolutionary origins.
Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.


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SO WHO IS IT RELATED TO?
If evolution has already repeatedly been proven wrong, why are people still entertaining the idea?!?
So I guess then the Platypus is an example of intelligent design? Seems plausible...
Intelligent design??? So I'm god "Hmmm yeah I think today I'll make a bird with fur and boobs, or a rat with a beak that lays eggs." Oh yeah, that makes a lot of sense... It's obviously some freakish missing link that is way more evidence of evolution than it is of god but if that's what you want to think then it must be a miracle... Oh and try not to get stung while you're kissing it's feet, it's deadly poisonous... thanks again jesus!
Sorry, I should have laid the sarcasm on a lil thicker. Intelligent Design is bs, The "Theory" of evolution is all but proven.
Who in their right minds would link the existence of the Platypus and idea of Intelligent Design?
Ok whew, I thought we were being taken over by evangelists.
But ok well if I was in debate class as "for intelligent design" as it relates to the platyupus (now there's a topic) I would go for the idea that the combined traits of the playtpus (2 traits each of birds, and mammals) do not fit with the linear development implied by evolution as "one trait at a time" and I would suggest that evolution might have created a bird with hair, or a mammal that lays eggs, but having two traits each from two completely different animal kingdoms seems highly implausible without some type of god with a very well developed sense of humor.
So there could be an arguement there, but it's one I'm not going to make. I think the platypus is a mammal that has adapted by calling upon recessive traits such as laying eggs, and the beak. Mammalian traits definitely evolved after bird and reptile traits and there are documented cases of recessive genes producing body parts in other animals, such as birds that develop teeth. The genes for teeth are still inherited by birds from their reptilian ancestors and they can still manifest themselves in some cases.
But then there are also a few instances in which the same trait evolves completely independantly in different animals. Insects have have something very similar to mammal "hair", flight evolved independantly in birds, insects, and mammals, so it would stand to reason that maybe it's a combination of a recessive trait from reptiles to lay eggs, and a unique "mammalian beak" (webbed feet are another thing that's evolved independently in birds and mammals) Evolution is certainly a strange thing. The poisonous spurs on the male platypus are completely unique. All other venomous mammals and reptiles deliver poison through a bite. Fish have poisonous barbs but they are different from the platypus in that the venom is contained within the spines instead of a seperate gland.
Ok whew, I thought we were being taken over by evolutionists.
"Intelligent Design is bs, The "Theory" of evolution is all but proven."
Can I have links to the proof, because last time I checked they were putting a few more thin bandages over a broken theory.
Why do you all believe that everything you were taught in school is fact?
thanx
برامج ماسنجر
مكياج
e pro
صور سيارات
رجيم
-طيور الجنة
thanx
صور ماسنجر -
العاب -
محولات -
رموز ماسنجر
برامج نوكيا
برامج جوال
قصص -
مدونة
مسجات جوال
تسريحات -
فساتين سهرة -
ديكور
Since when was evolution disproved???? i have never heard that. also, they don't teach you evolution in school. as for what i believe, i am a christian who agrees with evolution.
Why do people who don't believe in evolution come to an article about evolution and comment on it? I don't go to religious sites and tell them God is a fallacy clung to by people who are scared of death and chance. Such behavior is rude and arrogant. So go away and let intelligent people have intelligent conversations about a subject that they find joy in. What ever happened to "judge not". It has always seemed that I follow this "religious" idea more than people who claim to be religious. Go away!
And this is mostly aimed at "TheRealWazzar" who was particularly rude and arrogant. Go to a bible site and stop trying to pick a fight with people who couldn't care less about your brainwashed opinion. We're all going to die, deal with it! Life can suck, deal with it! Trying to disprove evolution isn't going to change your mortality.