Tuesday, May 30, 2023
English News
  • Hyderabad
  • Telangana
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • India
  • World
  • Entertainment
  • Science and Tech
  • Sport
  • Business
  • ...
    • NRI
    • View Point
    • cartoon
    • Columns
    • Reviews
    • Education Today
    • Property
    • Videos
    • Lifestyle
    • Rewind
E-Paper
  • NRI
  • View Point
  • cartoon
  • Columns
  • Reviews
  • Education Today
  • Property
  • Videos
  • Lifestyle
  • Rewind
Home | World | Fossil Pigments Shed New Light On Vertebrate Evolution

Fossil pigments shed new light on vertebrate evolution

The research shows that amphibians and reptiles concentrate melanin in internal organs, where it supports the immune system and stores metals.

By ANI
Published Date - 03:55 PM, Fri - 5 February 21
Fossil pigments shed new light on vertebrate evolution
Representational Image
whatsapp facebook twitter telegram

Washington: UCC palaeontologists have discovered new evidence that the fate of vertebrate animals over the last 400 million years has been shaped by microscopic melanin pigments.

This new twist in the story of animal evolution is based on cutting-edge analyses of melanin granules – melanosomes – in many different fossil and modern vertebrates, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Melanin and melanosomes have traditionally been linked to outermost body tissues such as skin, hair, and feathers, with important roles in UV protection and stiffening of tissues. Analyses of where different animals store melanin in the body, however, show that different vertebrate groups concentrate melanin in different organs, revealing shifts in how animals have used melanin over the last 400 million years.

The study, published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution, was led by UCC palaeontologists Maria McNamara, Dr Chris Rogers, Dr Valentina Rossi and PhD student Tiffany Slater, with an international team of evolutionary biologists from Switzerland.

The research shows that amphibians and reptiles concentrate melanin in internal organs, where it supports the immune system and stores metals. In birds and mammals, however, almost all melanin occurs in hair and feathers. This difference has an unexpected source – evolution of the immune system and of warm-blooded lifestyles.

“There are pros and cons to having melanin in the body. Melanin is hugely beneficial, but it also generates free radicals, which are harmful. This creates a major problem for animals,” said team member Dr Rossi.

“Melanin is a two-sided coin. It’s useful, but toxic. Birds and mammals basically came up with an ingenious solution during the early Triassic – pump melanin into new, outer, dead skin tissues that were evolving at the time. This set the scene for the evolution of the incredible diversity of plumage and fur patterning which we see today,” said McNamara.

  • Follow Us :
  • Tags
  • Dr Chris Rogers
  • Dr Valentina Rossi
  • Fossil pigments
  • Maria McNamara

Related News

  • Study identifies 12 key symptoms of long Covid

    Study identifies 12 key symptoms of long Covid

  • FBI releases documents reveal plot to kill Queen Elizabeth II in 1983

    FBI releases documents reveal plot to kill Queen Elizabeth II in 1983

  • US lawmakers seek joint session address by PM Modi during state visit

    US lawmakers seek joint session address by PM Modi during state visit

  • Saudi astronauts, including nation’s 1st woman, headed to ISS

    Saudi astronauts, including nation’s 1st woman, headed to ISS

  • Adult friendships can overcome childhood trauma, even in baboons: Study

    Adult friendships can overcome childhood trauma, even in baboons: Study

  • US ends Covid vax mandate for foreign arrivals

    US ends Covid vax mandate for foreign arrivals

Latest News

  • Hyderabad: Truck driver killed in road crash

    4 mins ago
  • Go skydiving indoors at Gravity Zip for an exhilarating experience 

    9 mins ago
  • Canada accepts TOEFL iBT under Student Direct Stream scheme

    18 mins ago
  • #VS11 Rags look: Vishwak Sen and Sithara Entertainments pay a tribute to legendary NTR

    21 mins ago
  • Indian Railways announces five special summer trains; check routes

    30 mins ago
  • Eat good, feel good: Healthy cafés to visit in Hyderabad

    50 mins ago
  • SICA conducts two-day Foundation day concerts with Nisha Rajagopalan

    56 mins ago
  • ‘Takkar’ has unique love story with lot of action and romance: Siddharth

    57 mins ago

company

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

business

  • Subscribe

telangana today

  • Telangana
  • Hyderabad
  • Latest News
  • Entertainment
  • World
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Science & Tech
  • Sport

follow us

© Copyrights 2022 TELANGANA PUBLICATIONS PVT. LTD. All rights reserved. Powered by Veegam