PARIS (AFP) - Arguably the oddest beast in Nature's menagerie, the platypus looks as if were assembled from spare parts left over after the animal kingdom was otherwise complete.
Now scientists know why. According to a study released Wednesday, the egg-laying critter is a genetic potpourri -- part bird, part reptile and part lactating mammal.
The task of laying bare the platypus genome of 2.2 billion base pairs spread across 18,500 genes has taken several years, but will do far more than satisfy the curiosity of just biologists, say the researchers.
Read entire story here.
17 USC § 1008 Prohibition on certain infringement actions:
No action may be brought under this title alleging infringement of copyright based on the noncommercial use by a consumer for making digital musical or analog musical recordings.
Wow. 10 sex chromosomes. Crazy. I love the random facts at the end that really have no relation to the article. Other than the fact that it is about platypi. Or whatever the plural form is.
What we need around here is some platypus porn.
“La patria es dicha, dolor y cielo de todos y no feudo ni capellanía de nadie.”
- José Martí
Wow. So are you like the equivalent of Satan² or what?Originally Posted by 666x666
That really has no relation to the article either.
17 USC § 1008 Prohibition on certain infringement actions:
No action may be brought under this title alleging infringement of copyright based on the noncommercial use by a consumer for making digital musical or analog musical recordings.
Platypussy?
So, yeah... I read the article waiting for random facts that have nothing to do with the article.
Instead, I find information about the platypus. Some of it may have not been related to the platypus genome, but it was all platypustastic.
“The martyr sacrifices themselves entirely in vain. Or rather not in vain; for they make the selfish more selfish, the lazy more lazy, the narrow narrower.” - Florence Nightingale
I meant that it hadn't anything to do with the genome. Which was the main focus of the article. But I guess it was related in the sense that it's the same animal.
Oh, it's a old-time calculator puzzle, its 443556
if you turn it upside down it says GOOBER
Nice info
where you been hiding.
were we being bad
I know you were
{ If you think a site is down then try... http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/ }
{ May the Great Spirit smile down upon you and yours. May He bless you in all you do.}
{For sites of interest check profile under biography}
Feather
www.fairtax.org
That sounds like an inquiry that needs to be aimed toward anon! :P And perhaps the plural is platypussies... :P More importantly, what would a 'group' of them be called? A herd of platypussies? A flock, gaggle, swarm, or stampede perhaps!?t
(To legitimately answer however, plural form is platypus or platypuses... platypi is no longer accepted or valid apparently. And there doesn't seem to be a name for them in groups as they're solitary animals :non-social:)
Thanks badcaffeine, I was just getting ready to look that up :)
As for the whole story, I didn't get to read it because it is no longer there according to Yahoo, but I think it would have been interesting. I always wondered what exactly it was. The fact that it is part bird, reptile, and lactating mammal indeed proves that initial theories were right... it wasassembled from spare parts left over after the animal kingdom was otherwise complete.
The second link in the thread is also to the same (I have to assume) story. ;) Here it is again though.
A fraggle of platypussies!!!
(Yes, I have dubbed a new term [or reused one perhaps, lol] for them since they don't have one! What if they DID group together?! Would we just sit here and be unprepared?!?! NO!! I THINK NOT! We now have a name for them, and [according to the Neverending Story] can destroy them!!!)
:P
not only are they a genetic hodgepodge, they have poison claws to boot! as if they weren't freaky enough
Exactly notbob. I wonder how venomous the claw is. I mean would it be the equivalent to say a small spider bite, or more like a copperhead. Either way I don't want to be the one to find out.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks