The genes for causing spots in cheetahs have been discovered: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/25/s...etahs-spots-and-tabbies-stripes.html?_r=1&hpw
How the cheetah got its spots: new research in feline color genetics
- Thread starter DavidBrown
- Start date
If I read the report correctly, the gene that has been discovered is the one that changes the coat pattern from the normal spots to the wide lines of the 'king cheetah'.
Alan
Alan
nanoboy
Well-Known Member
I think that I would have to agree with you there.
It looks like they found the genetic region for spots, but still need to figure out the actual history of the spot genes. I guess I should change the thread title to "how the cheetah got its stripes".
I remember reading a joke a few years ago that scientists had discovered the gene that made scientists think that there is a gene for everything.
With recent discoveries it looks like much of our genetic expression is controlled by previously unknown "on-off" switches in the so-called "junk DNA" so the whole paradigm of what a gene is getting redefined.
nanoboy
Well-Known Member
So the junk DNA may not be of extra terrestrial origin as The X-Files made me believe?
The region for "action aid" genes in evolutionary adaptation perhaps!
(remember that since Darwin the notion of slow pace of evolutionary adaptation has had to be revised ... somewhat
).
(remember that since Darwin the notion of slow pace of evolutionary adaptation has had to be revised ... somewhat
).