Their study shows that mutations in the amphibians were quite rare. Researchers looked at over 68,000 toads/frogs from different areas across the United States. The goal of the research was to identify certain "hot spots" where abnormalities in the amphibian populations were more prevalent. Causes for these hot spots could be due to pollution, chemical spills, or other man-made run offs. Amphibians were focused because there has been a decline in the toad/frog population in the United States over the last couple of years and they were looking for potential causes, such as mutations due to changing climate and environment from human interaction.
Although the focus of this research was to identify these hot spots, these frogs can be examined and see what is happening to the genome to produce an extra limb, or missing toes, or shortened limbs. The study also shows that these mutations can also fix themselves, another interesting genome change that researchers could look at. The identification of these hot spots can be used in a proactive manner. The hot spot could be examined and sources of chemical or heavy metal introduction to the environment can be examined and stopped. A mutation that starts in a creature as small as a frog can cause mutations in larger amphibians or mammals if the hot spot is not controlled.
Where do you think this research could go? What could it be used for?
Links to the articles:
This reminds me of the experiment we did in vertebrate embryology with exposing xenopus laevis embryos to UV light
ReplyDeleteThere are all kinds of research done on frogs. Frogs are prone more than other animals (for some reason) to genomic modification depending on the given environment. the "waxy" frog secretes wax and rub it with its leg all over its body to protect itself from sunlight (hot environments). there is another frog that can handle very cold temp. its heart stops, its breathing stop, the water inside the cell freezes and is replaced with glucose and urea to keep the cell from collapsing. Once its warm again, the frog is living again. Back from the land of the dead. Lol. Yea, frogs are mysterious creatures, they have this plasticity for any changes. they could grow back a lost limb as you pointed in your blog. Scientists must develop their knowledge about it and maybe apply the same principles to our benefit to grow a limb back! My friend who lost a leg when stepping on a mine will be happy to see some development in this field.
ReplyDeleteI did not all of that about frogs! I can see why this is a hot topic in research, there are plenty of things to learn!
DeleteI think frogs are good indicator species for environmental problems ("canary in a coal mine") because they have life cycles in both water and land and their semi-permeable skin makes them more vulnerable to change.
ReplyDeleteAstute.
DeleteThis is interesting... Using frogs as possible indicators of hazardous things going on in the environment. I didn't know that they can grow body parts back. This makes me want to try my own experiments on frogs just to watch body parts grow back! Mean, I know...
ReplyDeleteIt'd be an interesting experiment! But poor frog...
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