![]() ![]() Ten sets of chromosomes do that job instead of two which is enough for humans: An X and a Y result in a baby boy two Xs result in baby girls. ![]() These are the genes that determine the sex of puggles. And, unlike mammals, platypuses have two matches for what scientists call the ZPAX genes which, until now, had been found only in birds, fish and amphibians. They possess microRNAs which chickens have, plus different microRNAs which only mammals possess. Puggles are born from eggs but treated to mothers’ milk, like mammals, as soon as they are born. Said differently, birds and platypuses are distant relatives, sort of like Andrew and I.įor instance, platypuses share with chickens a gene for a type of egg-yolk protein. That is of interest to birders because some of the genes found in the platypus were, until now, known only in birds. But today comes news from the science magazine Nature that scientists have successfully mapped the entire genome of the platypus. Having just learned the word, I was anxious for an opportunity to use it, but a blog about birds seemed an unlikely place. If dog breeders want to cross pugs and beagles, let them find a new name for the result. I see that dog breeders with too much time on their hands have also introduced a hybrid dog breed by the same name, but I will use the word as it should be used, to describe baby platypuses. I have a young cousin - and I thank you, Andrew - who recently introduced me to the word “puggle” which I think is a fine word.
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