Icebergs help penguins evolve quickly

Scientists have extracted the 6,000-year-old ancient penguin DNA. Compared to today's penguin DNA, it was discovered that there was a big difference .

Molecular biologist David Lambert

After nearly 10 years of studying DNA of the Adélie penguin in Antarctica, the research team led by molecular biologist David Lambert of New Zealand Massey Auckland University obtained the winged human DNA. amputated. They want to find out why current penguins and their ancestors 6000 years ago have such a big genetic difference?

Every summer, Adélie penguins often focus on one place to give birth. One in four young birds die prematurely, and as time passes, there is a large amount of penguin bones that have died over the ages. Antarctica is a place where the climate is like a natural refrigerator, so it is the best condition to preserve DNA in penguin's bones. DNA cells from both parents should be more accurately reflected. their rate of evolution.

The study found that the number of gene mutations accumulated in penguins 6,000 years ago was " startling ". The researchers took human cell DNA from 15 6,000-year-old ancient penguins and compared it with the cell nucleus of 48 birds currently living in the breeding area, the results show: in things Duplicate self-duplication of 9 DNA segments, there are 4 segments of DNA stretching and there are 2 short pieces of DNA.

In the evolutionary history, 6,000 years is not a long time, penguins are living birds separate from the outside world, in such a short time that great transformation is unprecedented. in another animal before.

According to the researchers, the cause of the penguin's rapid evolution may be ice mountains that have been floating thousands of years before, and hinder the path of common penguins, making The penguins are separated, proliferate in a new place and the local penguin gene pool integrates into the new blood system, accelerating the evolution of this bird.

Tuyet Nhung