A tiny shrew's extraordinary ability to shrink its organs and brain mass during winter has provided scientists with valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms behind this adaptation. The study also suggests potential links between the shrew's adaptation and genetic changes in humans associated with various health conditions.
A tiny shrew, known for its remarkable ability to shrink its organs and brain mass in preparation for winter, has provided scientists with intriguing insights into the genetic mechanisms behind this adaptation. This shrew, which stores fat during warmer months to survive the lean period, employs a unique strategy to conserve energy during winter by reducing the size of its fuel-consuming organs.
Researchers have discovered that this phenomenon, known as Dehnel's phenomenon, can cause the shrew to lose up to 18 percent of its body weight, including more than a quarter of its brain mass, during the colder months. The lost tissues are then regenerated the following spring. In a recent study, scientists focused on understanding the genetic basis of this adaptation by comparing gene expression in the shrews' hypothalami - the brain region responsible for regulating metabolism - to those of 15 other mammals across various taxonomic groups. This comparative analysis revealed hundreds of genes that were both upregulated in shrews and had corresponding versions expressed in the brains of other mammals, including rodents and primates. These findings suggest potential links between the shrew's adaptation and genetic changes in humans implicated in various health conditions.
GENETICS ADAPTATION METABOLISM NEUROLOGY SHREW
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