Solution for why pigs and cows have nails

Scientists have identified the reason why the toes in ungulates have a pairing.

Recently, scientists from the University of Basel (Switzerland) have identified genetic changes - the key to adapting the genus in ungulates .

Accordingly, evolutionary diversity has reduced the number of toes in ungulate animals such as cows and pigs and converted into a clawed joint.

Through research, experts found that primitive animal fossil specimens often have five toes, like modern and human mice. During evolution, the basic bone structure changed significantly and retreated to 4, 5 and 5 toes in pigs combined into one.

The cow's toenails are usually on the symmetrical sides to provide good traction when walking and running on different terrains.

Professor Rolf Zeller of Basel University is studying the evolutionary adaptation of ungulate animals. He and his colleagues compared the activity of genes in mouse embryos and cattle to monitor the development of fingers and toes from embryos.

The development of limbs in both species was initially very similar, but the differences only became apparent when subjects developed limbs, based on genetic factors such as hox genes . Subjects have triggered the transformation of the gene that regulates Patched1 .

Rolf Zeller said: " Genetic changes affect the limb formation of the horseshoe animals or even other mammals about 55 million years ago."

This research has provided more valuable materials to help scientists better understand the history of the evolution of today's animals.