БИОЛОГИЯ
the vole - маленький пушистый зверек... но очень странный, генетически.
• Voles are evolving 60-100 times faster than the average vertebrate in terms of creating different species.
•Within the genus, the number of chromosomes in voles ranges from 17-64.
•In one species, the X chromosome contains about 20 percent of the entire genome. Sex chromosomes normally contain much less genetic information.
•In another species, females possess large portions of the Y (male) chromosome.
•In yet another species, males and females have different chromosome numbers, which is uncommon in animals.
A final "counterintuitive oddity" is that despite genetic variation, all voles look alike. "All voles look very similar, and many species are completely indistinguishable," DeWoody said.
Nevertheless, voles are perfectly adept at recognizing those of their own species.
Rodent's bizarre traits deepen mystery of genetics, evolution
Genetica, Sept. 2006
Accelerated molecular evolution in Microtus (Rodentia) as assessed via complete mitochondrial genome sequences -- PDF
• Voles are evolving 60-100 times faster than the average vertebrate in terms of creating different species.
•Within the genus, the number of chromosomes in voles ranges from 17-64.
•In one species, the X chromosome contains about 20 percent of the entire genome. Sex chromosomes normally contain much less genetic information.
•In another species, females possess large portions of the Y (male) chromosome.
•In yet another species, males and females have different chromosome numbers, which is uncommon in animals.
A final "counterintuitive oddity" is that despite genetic variation, all voles look alike. "All voles look very similar, and many species are completely indistinguishable," DeWoody said.
Nevertheless, voles are perfectly adept at recognizing those of their own species.
Rodent's bizarre traits deepen mystery of genetics, evolution
Genetica, Sept. 2006
Accelerated molecular evolution in Microtus (Rodentia) as assessed via complete mitochondrial genome sequences -- PDF