When the platypus was first discovered, scientists thought it was a hoax. It was just too hard to believe that a duck-billed, egg-laying, otter-footed, beaver-tailed, venomous mammal could really exist. But, it does – and it turns out, the genetic makeup of this strange animal may just clue us in to how humans and other mammals first evolved.
A study of platypus DNA released last May is being examined to see if it can provide insight into our origins.
From Finding Dulcinea:
Jenny Graves, head of the Comparative Genomics Group at the Australian National University, said that sequencing the platypus genome will shed light on human evolution: “Comparing us with the platypus means that we can say something about our common ancestor, which was one of the earliest mammals, so that means that we can ask questions about what happened to make us mammals.”
According to Mark Batzer of Louisiana State University, knowledge of the platypus genome may aid disease prevention research. “This is a huge genetic step. We’re learning a lot about mammalian gene regulation and immune systems. … We hope to, in time, identify the underlying causes and methods of disease prevention in humans.”
It’s a weird twist to the story of a weird animal. Who would have thought that the platypus could prove to be so important to understanding human evolution, and could even be the key to preventing disease? This further confirms my theory that platypi are totally awesome. I mean, really. Look at them. They’re fascinating.
Link [Finding Dulcinea]
Photo credit: State of the Environment Tasmania
