Evolution reversed in mice

[TechBear_Seattle]

Evolution reversed in mice

US researchers have taken a mouse back in time some 500 million years by reversing the process of evolution.

By engineering its genetic blueprint, they have rebuilt a gene that was present in primitive animals.

The ancient gene later mutated and split, giving rise to a pair of genes that play a key role in brain development in modern mammals.

The scientists say the experiments shed light on how evolution works and could lead to new gene therapy techniques.

"We are first to reconstruct an ancient gene," said co-researcher Petr Tvrdik of the University of Utah. "We have proven that from two specialised modern genes, we can reconstruct the ancient gene they split off from.

"It illuminates the mechanisms and processes that evolution uses, and tells us more about how Mother Nature engineers life."

The article continues at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5245950.stm

[ThomCat]

1. My God, they're creating Republicans!

The horror! The horror! :cry:

[mom cat]

5. LOL! ... Good one.

:rofl:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Hmmm... Maybe this explains

the Chimperor. Some mad scientist got ahold of this method and did a little experimenting on the Bush family's least promising member -- and they de-evolved his ass.

[stubtoe]

3. Actually, that's an interesting article.

There are links from that article to other genetic research, that I got lost in for a while. While I don't know Hox genes from beans, it's fascinating that they could take genetic mutations backwards in time. Thanks!

[unpossibles]

4. so we could use this as yet another example of evolutionary testing

...which the ID crowd will ignore....