Hissstory re-written: Snakes didn't lose their necks as they evolved from their ancestors - mammals and birds just GAINED them
Author: Sarah Griffiths
Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2900626/Hissstory-written-Snakes-didn-t-lose-necks-evolved-form-ancestors-mammals-birds-just-GAINED-them.html
Summary:
Scientists have long thought that snakes evolved their legless bodies by losing regions of their body, like their neck, legs as they evolve from their four legged lizard ancestors. Recent new studies show that snakes did not lose distinct regions, rather mammals and birds gained them. Hox gene, which establishes boundaries in body parts such as neck and lumber in mammals and birds was thought to be disrupted in snakes, this theory was proven to be wrong. Researchers found out that Hox gene is present and completely function-able in snakes, and after studying the skeleton structure of snakes, scientists came to the realization that snakes skeleton structures are just as diverse as lizard's skeleton structure, and simply losing a gene does not explain the diversity in snakes. If snakes evolved from losing the Hox gene, one would expect less regions like shoulders, necks to be found in snakes, but the result is the complete opposite, the exact same regions are found in same places as limped lizards. This new study combined with fossil records, scientists are able to came to the conclusion that snakes did not evolve from lizards, mammals and birds gained the new body parts independently rather than the other way around.
This relates to what we learned recently because this article is about evolution of snakes. We learned that species adapt to better survive in their ever changing environment. People thought that snakes were evolved from lizards, but now that we now it's the other way around, lizards evolved from snakes possible due to the advantage of conserving energy while moving on land, and sometimes move faster. The lizards were able to pass down their genes because this mutation in their genes helped them survive, and this process is what Darwin described as natural selection.
why do you think the snakes didn't gain these body parts? how is it beneficial in their environment?
ReplyDeleteIf snakes evolved from losing the Hox gene, one would expect less regions like shoulders, necks to be found in snakes, but the result is the complete opposite, the exact same regions are found in same places as limped lizards. snakes just don't need legs.
Deletewhat do you think was the evolutionary pressure that caused other mammals to gain body parts.
ReplyDelete