Platypus Study Reveals New Insights into Sex Chromosome Gene Expression
A recent study on the platypus reveals new insights into gene expression balance between sexes, challenging the long-held belief that X chromosome inactivation is essential for genetic equality. This groundbreaking research highlights alternative mechanisms that some species, including the platypus, utilize to manage X-linked gene expression, offering potential implications for understanding genetic disorders linked to sex chromosomes.
New Extinct Species of Monotremes Discovered in Australia
Recent discoveries in paleontology reveal three new extinct species of egg-laying mammals in Australia, shedding light on the evolution of monotremes. The ‘echidnapus,’ Opalios splendens, a blend of platypus and echidna features, lived during the Cretaceous period. Lightning Ridge in New South Wales was a hotspot for these furry egg-layers around 100 million years ago. Unearthed fossils offer valuable insights into Australia’s prehistoric past, emphasizing the need to revisit old fossils.
Ancient ‘Echidnapus’ Fossil Unearthed in Australia
Australian scientists have discovered the ancient ‘echidnapus’ in opal fields in New South Wales, shedding light on Australia’s ‘age of monotremes’. The newly identified Opalios splendens species, resembling the platypus and echidna, expands the known diversity of prehistoric egg-laying mammals. This groundbreaking find, detailed in the journal Alcheringa, highlights the unique evolutionary history of Australian fauna.