Found genes that govern the bird's migratory behavior

Mankind has known the habit of migrating to the south in the winter of birds, but how they achieve that ability is still a question without answers and scientists are beginning to clarify. this problem.

Each year, about 50 billion birds conduct migration, a " pilgrimage " is tired and often accompanied by changes in diet, physiology and behavior.

According to New Scientist , to understand the genetic basis for these changes, Jakob Mueller and his colleagues at the Max Planck Ornithology Institute at Starnberg (Germany) have captured birds from 14 black-headed bird populations. Europe (also known as Sylvia atricapilla), a warbler that lives in Northern Europe in the summer and in Southern Europe or North Africa in the winter.

European black-headed bird

These birds are only active during the day, but they are ready to fly at night during the migration.

The team monitored and recorded the level of night restlessness of captured birds, a characteristic manifestation of the natural migratory behavior, and blood sampling for genetic markers. coordinating changes in their nocturnal activity.

Experts detect nocturnal changes in gene-related birds called ADCYAP1.

This gene not only urges nighttime activity of birds, but also encodes PACAP, a protein that plays an important role in secreting melatonin, energy metabolism and bird feeding.

These functions are essential for them in preparation for long flights. 'This is the first step to bring the study of bird migration down to a molecular level,' said Mueller.

According to expert David Winkler of Cornell University in New York (USA), this study is "the surface of the iceberg" in capturing the genetic basis of immigration behavior.

This is also an important step in the process of understanding it may take decades.