Pangolin鈥檚 genome sequencing achieved
Print Edition
An international research team has completed genome sequencing of the pangolin, uncovering the possibility of another function of the animal鈥檚 scales 鈥 improving its skin immunity.
鈥淭he pangolin genome had not been sequenced until now, in part due to the difficulty in obtaining DNA samples,鈥 said Siew Woh Choo, a researcher with Xi鈥檃n Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) who led the team. Due to a selective diet and poor immunity, it is difficult to keep pangolin in captivity.
Scientists obtained DNA samples from two critically endangered species of pangolin 鈥 the Chinese pangolin and Malayan pangolin 鈥 and mapped out genome sequencing.
The data was analyzed by an international team of scientists, who were needed due to the large size of the pangolin genome, which is nearly equal in size to the human genome.
Choo said that some genes may have lost their functions due to mutations during evolution. The team found that this was the case with certain genes related to pangolin immunity, such as the IFNE gene.
鈥淏ut this gene is functional in humans,鈥 Choo said, adding that it works as the first line of defense against pathogens attempting to enter human bodies.
Researchers believe that the pangolin鈥檚 scales not only can protect it from predators but also from injuries as well as subsequent microbial infections. The impact of evolution on scales may have caused skin immunity loss, due to a loss in function of the IFNE gene.
An article on the XJTLU website said the investigation of pangolin genetics is continuing, while Choo鈥檚 team is exploring the possibility of making the pangolin a comparative model for understanding human immunity and diseases.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
