biology
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Ancient History of Rhinos, Including Woolly Ancestors, Revealed in DNA Study
New research details the evolutionary history of rhinoceroses, exposing a surprising lack of genetic diversity throughout their long history. Given that all living species of rhinos are currently endangered and facing their own genetic bottlenecks, the new research could improve conservation efforts.
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Toxic Algae May Be Behind Mysterious Deaths of California Family
Something led to the recent sudden deaths of a family of three and their dog on a hiking trail in the Sierra National Forest of Northern California, but what, exactly, is still unknown. Authorities said Thursday that it’s unlikely nearby mines played any role, but they do suspect that a toxic algae bloom could be…
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Yellow Dog Coats Came From an Ancient Canid That Split From Wolves Millions of Years Ago
A recent genetic analysis of dog coloration found that mutations in one gene are responsible for five distinctive coat patterns in dogs. These patterns manifest in iconic breeds like the corgi and the Bernese mountain dog, and a team of researchers were even able to trace one coat type, called dominant yellow, to an extinct…
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This Colour-Changing Robo-Chameleon Is Cool Because Now Robots Can Hide From Us
Creatures like chameleons and cuttlefish can effortlessly change the colours and patterns of their skin to match their surroundings, but recreating that clever camouflaging trick on a robot required some impressive engineering from a team of South Korean researchers who have now given robots the power to hide from us. Wait, did we think this…