Polar bears prove to be new kids on block
Source: Agencies |
March 3, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A FOSSIL jaw found in Norway's Svalbard archipelago is helping researchers confirm that polar bears evolved from brown bears "only" about 150,000 years ago.
Polar bears live much of the year on the Arctic sea ice and have become a symbol of the threat of global warming, which is melting that ice.
"Our results confirm that the polar bear is an evolutionarily young species that split off from brown bears some 150,000 years ago and evolved extremely rapidly," said Charlotte Lindqvist, an assistant professor in the University of Buffalo's department of biological sciences.
Lindqvist and colleagues were able to analyze DNA from the fossil and report their findings in yesterday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
Scientists knew polar bears descended from brown bears, but not when they did.
By comparing DNA from the fossil, estimated at up to 130,000 years old, to DNA from modern polar and brown bears they were able to calculate when they separated.
Polar bear fossils are rare since their remains are usually scavenged by other animals or sink in the ocean.
Polar bears live much of the year on the Arctic sea ice and have become a symbol of the threat of global warming, which is melting that ice.
"Our results confirm that the polar bear is an evolutionarily young species that split off from brown bears some 150,000 years ago and evolved extremely rapidly," said Charlotte Lindqvist, an assistant professor in the University of Buffalo's department of biological sciences.
Lindqvist and colleagues were able to analyze DNA from the fossil and report their findings in yesterday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
Scientists knew polar bears descended from brown bears, but not when they did.
By comparing DNA from the fossil, estimated at up to 130,000 years old, to DNA from modern polar and brown bears they were able to calculate when they separated.
Polar bear fossils are rare since their remains are usually scavenged by other animals or sink in the ocean.
- 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.
