Fur is a defining characteristic of mammals, exhibiting a wide range of colors and patterns. Thanks to a groundbreaking study, we now understand gene that controls marsupial fur color whether a marsupial’s coat is black or grey.
| Date | August 6, 2024 |
| Source | University of Otago |
| Summary | Fur, a distinctive feature of mammals, exhibits a vast array of colors and patterns. A groundbreaking study has identified the specific genes responsible for determining whether a marsupial’s coat is black or grey. |
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How researchers discover gene that controls marsupial fur color
Researchers from New Zealand’s University of Otago analyzed brushtail possum DNA to better understand the evolution of fur color variation. Published in Royal Society Open Science, the study builds on the group’s previous work of sequencing the entire genome of the New Zealand brushtail possum.
Co-lead Dr. Donna Bond, from Otago’s Department of Anatomy, explains that this is the first time genetic variation in coat color has been studied in a natural population of marsupials.
Although marsupials, such as koalas and wombats, are quite distantly related to us researchers consider them cute and cuddly because of their fur. their research now reveals why most of them have grey fur, while some are black.
The color of a mammal’s fur is intrinsic to its identity, understanding the molecular reasons for this helps relate it to other animal systems, especially under-researched marsupials.
Possums are one of the few marsupials where natural coat color variation exists. In Australia, where they are considered a cultural treasure, many Tasmanian possums are black, while on the mainland they are grey. In New Zealand, where they were introduced in the 1850s for the fur trade and are now considered a pest, these subspecies interbreed extensively.
Due to this interbreeding, we knew we could identify the genes responsible relatively easily and provide a good model for other marsupials with coat color variation that are harder to study.
The researchers also found that the protein responsible for color variation, Agouti Signalling Protein (ASIP), is rapidly evolving in carnivorous dasyurid marsupials perhaps these are most colorful and interesting marsupials based on their fur.
“You have the quolls, which are spotted and can be either black or grey, and the famously striped tigers and devils with blotches from Tasmania.
“We can now connect the rapid molecular evolution of coat color genes with the role of these carnivorous marsupials as predators needing to avoid detection from prey,” he says. Coat color variation is thought to have evolved in mammals many times to fulfill certain functions.
“For a nocturnal animal like the possum, black fur may help conceal it from predators in Tasmania, but perhaps this is not needed on the Australian mainland.
“As possums continue to adapt and evolve in New Zealand, where they have few predators other than humans, it will be interesting to see whether black or grey coat color is preferred in certain locations,” Associate Professor Hore adds.
Possum skins and fur are a cultural treasure in Australia, where Southern Aboriginal tribes use their skins for cloaks, depicting images and stories on them throughout life. Historically, possum fur and skin were used to make balls for sports like marngrook, which some believe influenced Australian Rules Football.
While possums are protected in Australia, they are considered a pest in New Zealand, where their fur and skin continue to be harvested for its superior insulating properties.
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FAQ:
1. What are marsupials?
Marsupials are a group of mammals known for carrying and nursing their young in pouches. This group includes animals like kangaroos, koalas, and wombats.
2. Where are marsupials found?
Marsupials are primarily found in Australia and nearby islands, but some species also live in the Americas, such as the opossum.
3. What distinguishes marsupials from other mammals?
The key distinction is the marsupium, or pouch, where the young continue to develop after birth. Marsupials give birth to relatively undeveloped young that complete their development in the mother’s pouch.