Giraffe genome tells a tall tale
The genome of the tallest land animal reveals how it achieved such heights
Dr. Douglas Cavener, professor of biology and Dean of the Eberle College of Science at Penn State University, and his colleagues, have decoded the giraffe's genome, as well as that of its closest relative, the much less strange okapi, in order to try to understand the genetic roots of the giraffe's remarkable biology.
They found a suite of genetic changes, but relatively few genetic innovations, suggesting that the giraffe's secret is that it uses the same genes for bone, muscle and cardiovascular tissue that are used by other animals, but has amped up their normal activity to build their massive bodies.
Related Links
- Paper in Nature Communications
- Penn State University release
- The Giraffe Genome Project
- New Yorker story
- Nature news story