platypus genome project

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0507131453.htm

Here's a chunk of it:

"
As part of their analysis, the researchers compared the platypus genome with genomes of the human, mouse, dog, opossum and chicken. They found that the platypus shares 82 percent of its genes with these animals. The chicken genome was chosen because it represents a group of egg-laying animals, including extinct reptiles, which passed on much of their DNA to the platypus and other mammals over the course of evolution.

"The researchers also found genes that support egg laying - a feature of reptiles - as well as lactation - a characteristic of all mammals. Interestingly, the platypus lack nipples, so its young nurse through the abdominal skin.

"The researchers also attempted to determine which characteristics of the platypus were linked to reptiles at the DNA level. When they analyzed the genetic sequences responsible for venom production in the male platypus, they found it arose from duplications in a group of genes that evolved from ancestral reptile genomes. Amazingly, duplications in the same genes appear to have evolved independently in venomous reptiles."

But my favorite line in the article, for its "aren't people odd" value, was "the genome sequence of a female platypus named Glennie from New South Wales." I'm going out on a limb here to suggest she didn't get that name from her mother at birth.

Platipi (?) are weird little fellas.
They sweat milk for their young.

Well, it seems weird to us, but at some point our ancestors must have lacked the more specialised milk-secretion structures that we, er, take for granted.

speak for yourself facehammer. I haven't been able to sleep on my stomach in 41 years because of them.

[Sternwallow]

oldhippychick wrote

speak for yourself facehammer. I haven't been able to sleep on my stomach in 41 years because of them.

Great, with that image, now I won't be able to sleep on my stomach.

Isilmë wrote

Platipi (?) are weird little fellas.
They sweat milk for their young.

Platypuses or platypi. Or if you want to be eccentric, platypodes.