It's official - the platypus is weird.
It's official - the platypus is weirdScientists from the Australian National University have proved what many have thought for years - platypuses are really weird.
In the international Nature journal today they report a platypus has five chromosones determining sex, not one - like the rest of the species in the world.
Professor Jennifer Graves says platypus have five X and five Y chromosomes, and when sperm are made it gets even stranger.
"What we've discovered is that these five Xs and five Ys line up in a great big long chain, that go XY XY XY XY XY XY, and then all the X chromosomes move to one pole, and all the Y chromosomes move to the other," she said.
Professor Graves says there is another unexpected finding.
"One end of the chain looks like human sex chromosomes but the other end of the chain looks like bird sex chromosomes, so the chain is actually linking a very ancient system of sex determination in birds and probably reptiles too," she said.
The unique status of the Australian mammal is now unassailable.
Source: It's official - the platypus is weird. 25/10/2004. ABC News Online [This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200410/s1226827.htm]
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Now,you are probably wondering why I posted this old news item in this my most recent blog?
As Emperor of the Sovereign State of Donbovawitthegunma, I really don't have to give you a flamin' reason ...
However, I am at present seeking a new Tourist Minister, as the last one is as dead as road kill. Actually, he is now Road Kill. It was an accident ... he stepped in front of the delivery van (honestly).
Anyway, we have alot of citizens here in Donbovawiththegunma who actually enjoy "plaiting pusses" and as we have a lot of flat-a-pussies (road killed feral cats) in our newly formed country, I thought it most appropriate to get your attention by posting an item on platypuses.
So read ... and ...
* Now Shuddupya Face *
Wazzup Nowdown
his.royal.decadence@gmail.com
posted by Emperor Wazzup Nowdown @ 4:45 AM
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