ecoginny
- Science
Duck-Billed Platypus Genes Analyzed
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.
9.5.2008 at 07:31pm - Comment by ecoginnyWhy 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.
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December 2009: Best of What's New
In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.
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