Birds Mutation

Archive for the ‘Zebra Finch’ Category

Many behavioral ecologists, geneticists, physiologists, etc., are familiar with the zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). In fact, many felt it was the avian version of the white lab rat. Thus, the investigator should like to know that scientists have recently decoded the genome of the zebra finch.

A genome to investigate the behavior

The birds are not the only bird to have its genome have assigned (chicken finished in first place) and only about 1 / 3 the size of the human genome. However, there is a unique discovery because it will help behavioral scientists to better understand the underlying mechanisms that contribute to learn that the baby songbirds sing from their parents. This is not something that can be done with chicken genome, because chickens are not aware of the “Coo” of their parents, they just do it. Zebra finches, on the other hand, is similar to humans because human children learn to talk about their parents.

The zebra finch genome gives us an opportunity to explore the influence of genetics in the development of language.

The researchers examine the genome and they find that much of the DNA of birds participating actively in the negotiation and vocals. Furthermore, these short, simple songs are rooted in a complex genetics. To date, it is understood that the act of singing songs and active large and complex networks of genes in the brain to hear the birds. However, the current research in genomics reveals that it involved many more genes than once thought. Currently it seems that there a total of about 800 genes are active in this process!

Genes such as genes do not act

New evidence also shows that many genes are activated, not to act like genes in the traditional sense. Rather than coding for proteins, DNA genes are transcribed into short segments of non-coding RNA that control the expression of other genes involved in speech communication, the zebra finch. Since the non-coding RNAs are very effective in the development process in animals and how they are probably played a role in the development of higher organisms, song learning, which may relate more to the higher organisms non-coding RNA as a driving force.

The evolution of language

It is interesting to note also that the comparison of the genome mapped new genome Finch in poultry, it seems clear differences, which gave the path of evolution that gave rise to birds, which are capable of vocal learning could be point. For example, changes in ion channel genes, the major players in behavioral and neurological function in the zebra finch brain accelerates, the expression of genes male sex chromosome appears to have changed and new production occurred variants Neuro-essential genes. It’s amazing how much learned in a short time!

From birds to humans

It took the combined efforts of more than 20 institutions to map the genome of the bird’s song and now everyone has the opportunity to reap the fruits of this work. The new information gathered should be useful to help us understand better how people learn the language and maybe it helps neuroscientists identify the genetic causes and molecular expression of some people who, with associated various diseases such as Parkinson’s, stroke, autism, etc. With the parrot genome is the end of this year, which we can all learn from our friends know little spring to be completed and also to us the same! GC7RKTHQA8WG