The ability to bulge the giant python's terrifying organs

The first comprehensive study by international scientists on the revealing snake genome, Burmese python (Burmese) is one of the most evolved organisms on Earth.

According to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences magazine, the new discovery shows how the python species grow and develop in Southeast Asia.

David Pollock, a member of the team from the University of Colorado School of Medicine (USA), said that Burmese python, with a length of more than 7 meters, basically underwent significant changes. at all their biological levels, from molecules to body functions. These changes take place in important physiological ways in the past 5-30 million years, allowing them to have unique adaptive properties.

Burmese Burmese can develop body length to more than 7 meters.(Photo: Discovery)

Mr. Pollock and his colleagues are particularly impressed with Burmese pythons that can eat huge prey to their own size. The amazing thing is that, not only does the head and jaw line be wide enough to swallow the meal equivalent to the size of a deer, but the python internal organs also enlarge themselves greatly and increase the speed of operation. to quickly digest prey before it rot.

Within 1-2 days, the heart, small intestine, liver and kidneys of the python will increase in size, from 1/3 to twice the original size. When the prey has been completely digested, these internal organs will return to normal size.

Analysis of Burmese python genome shows that the complex interaction between genetic expression, protein adaptation and changes in genome structure has allowed this reptile to do that. The creatures that possess the same gene cannot.

According to the researchers, he experienced a period of underground life. In this evolutionary phase, their skulls extend, the lung capacity decreases in response to lower oxygen availability, and their vision deteriorates. When moving to live on the ground, the pythons have developed the ability to improve metabolism, from low to high, to be able to consume "huge" prey.

The team claims, knowing how the python body stems and coordinates such major changes in key internal organs can help us understand the mechanisms that cause disease in humans, such as failure. Internal organs, sores or metabolic disorders.