Some WILD-WOW Facts!
Cheetahs are quite popular as "specialist sprinters" — able to cross the African Savannah at speeds exceeding 100 km/hr. The cheetah's incredible sprint skills are most likely influenced by natural selection for 'sprint' genes which allow for development of muscles with better energy management and regeneration. Genome studies have identified a group of eleven genes involved in muscle contraction, stress response, and regulation of catabolic processes.
The mane could potentially be the reflection of a lion's health. The colour, size, and density of the mane is related to its genetic precondition, sexual maturity and testosterone production. The basic rule is: darker and fuller the mane – healthier the lion. The mane is the most distinctive feature in the cat family – also noted as a sign of sexual dimorphism (the visual distinction between male and female individuals of a species).
Most tigers have yellow eyes, but white tigers usually have blue eyes! This is due to the gene for blue eyes being linked to the gene for white fur.
The Leopard has been quite an enigma in the field of genetics! It was considered to be a hybrid of the Lion and the Jaguar, and not clearly distinguished until just 100 years ago. Some of the confusion comes from the Black Panther (remember Bagheera from Jungle Book?) which is truly a Leopard with a black coat of fur — caused by a genetic mutation known as melanism, which causes large amounts of dark pigment to occur in the skin and fur.
In 2012, researchers partnered with Utah's Hogle Zoo and the Ringling Bros Center for Elephant Conservation to collect and analyze elephant blood. The team discovered that African elephants have at least 40 copies of TP53, a gene known for its cancer-fighting properties. It's a tumour suppressor gene that creates p53 — a protein that kills damaged cells by preventing cells with faulty DNA from replicating. This reduces the risk of tumour growth and overall cancer risk. Humans have just two copies of this gene. This specific genetic composition is thought to help elephants stay largely cancer-free.
Humans share over 90% of their DNA with their primate cousins. Each species' distinct biology and behaviour can be attributed to how their genes express themselves. For example, ~40% of the differences in gene behaviour between humans, chimpanzees and rhesus monkeys can be explained by regulatory mechanisms that control how the gene finally expresses itself.
Genetic manipulation is responsible for a wide variety of colours and patterns among pet snakes. In zoology, these differences are known as morphs — mutations that change the expected and normal appearance. For instance, an off-white colour isn't normal for Ball Pythons, but it exists through very deliberate selective breeding designed to make them more hypomelanistic over the years.
Photographs by: Udbhav Relan
Your DNA Is Just as Fascinating
The same forces that shape a cheetah's sprint genes and an elephant's cancer resistance are at work in your genome. Genomepatri reveals your genetic predispositions across 100+ health conditions — from cardiovascular risk to nutrition and fitness traits.
