I am glad humans did not loose their legs during evolution!
What did rattle snakes have millions of years ago? 😊
"In a quest to decode the secrets of snake evolution, ... a herpetologist at the Chengdu Institute of Biology, sequenced the genomes of 14 snake species. These species span 150 million years of evolution. They also looked at an additional 11 previously sequenced snake genomes. ...
The result is an unprecedented treasure trove of genetic data that is robust enough to uncover patterns that were previously hidden. Li’s team identified significant DNA alterations in a gene called PTCH1, which governs limb development. ..."
From the highlights and abstract:
"Highlights
• Comprehensive chromosome-level assembly of representative snake genomes
• Reveals the genetic basis of limb loss, elongated body, and asymmetrical lungs
• Genomic variation drives blind and infrared-sensitive snake specialization
• Functional experiments validate the comparative genomic discoveries
Summary
Snakes are a remarkable squamate lineage with unique morphological adaptations, especially those related to the evolution of vertebrate skeletons, organs, and sensory systems. To clarify the genetic underpinnings of snake phenotypes, we assembled and analyzed 14 de novo genomes from 12 snake families. We also investigated the genetic basis of the morphological characteristics of snakes using functional experiments. We identified genes, regulatory elements, and structural variations that have potentially contributed to the evolution of limb loss, an elongated body plan, asymmetrical lungs, sensory systems, and digestive adaptations in snakes. We identified some of the genes and regulatory elements that might have shaped the evolution of vision, the skeletal system and diet in blind snakes, and thermoreception in infrared-sensitive snakes. Our study provides insights into the evolution and development of snakes and vertebrates."
Graphical abstract:
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