The scaly-foot snail is the only creature known to incorporate iron in its skeleton
It survives high temperatures and high pressures of underwater volcanic vents
Decoding its genome for the first time could revel secrets of life's early evolution
Their resilient iron-coated shells may also develop stronger protective armour
The mystery of the volcano-dwelling snail and its iron shell has been unravelled by scientists after its genome was decoded for the first time.
The scaly-foot snail (Chrysomallon squamiferum) survives in what researchers have called the 'impossible living conditions' of underwater volcanic vents.
Enduring searing temperatures, high pressure, strong acidity and low oxygen, it is the only living creature known to incorporate iron into its skeleton.
Studying it will reveal the secrets of how early life evolved, scientists hope, as well as unlocking its 'huge potential' for medicine and other applications.
And now a team at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has made a breakthrough, decoding its genome for the first time.
The team identified 25 'transcription factors' – proteins that directly interpret the genome – that contribute to the production of tissue-stiffening minerals.
#1: NeoconsNailed To: Ada (#0)
NeoconsNailed posted on 2020-05-07 18:37:09 Reply Private Reply
#2: BTP Holdings To: NeoconsNailed (#1)
When I did mineral collecting, a bunch of us from the club were on a filed trip to a quarry in the midwest.
One of the guys that was not very bright was walking across a charged filed that was rigged to blow Monday morning.
I hollered at him, "YOU BETTER GET OUT OF THERE BEFORE YOU BLOW US ALL TO KINGDOM COME!"
He violated one of the most basic safety rules. NEVER walk into a charged field. :-/
BTP Holdings posted on 2020-05-07 18:54:01 Reply Private Reply
#3: Ada To: NeoconsNailed (#1)
Ada posted on 2020-05-07 20:10:59 Reply Private Reply
#4: NeoconsNailed To: BTP Holdings (#2)
NeoconsNailed posted on 2020-05-07 23:06:05 Reply Private Reply
#5: NeoconsNailed To: Ada, BTP Holdings (#3)
Here's another wild species tale, from News Of The Weird as I recall:
//////////The Bermuda fireworm is unremarkable during the day. It is small, reddish, and covered in little bristles that sting if you touch them. When it gets revved up, however, something remarkable happens. In the summer months, on the third night after the full Moon, 56 minutes after sunset (yes, it really is that exact), the worms go bonkers. Females start swimming up from the bottom of the sea, ready to mate and literally glowing with passion. Their bioluminescence switch is set to “max” in a bid to attract a mate. Soon enough, the males hurry over to join the ladies’ neon circles, making the ocean spark with green light.//////////
;-D
NeoconsNailed posted on 2020-05-07 23:12:57 Reply Private Reply
#6: sonny To: Ada (#0)
sonny posted on 2020-05-08 19:55:56 Reply Private Reply
#7: Ada To: sonny (#6)
Ada posted on 2020-05-08 20:53:37 Reply Private Reply