The mutations process make killifish can live in waters full of poison. Scientists reveal that the fish was 8,000 times more resistant to toxins than ordinary fish. This fascinating fact was revealed in a publication in the journal Science on Friday, December 9, 2016.
To reveal the fact, Andrew Whitehead of the University of California, Davis, has collected more than 4,000 Atlantic Killifish that live on the east coast of the United States. These waters are known to contain dioxins, polychloronated biphenyls (PCB), and heavy metals 8,000 times higher than the other waters in general.
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| Scientists discover mutated Killifish that have become 8,000 times more resistant to toxic waste. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ghFg1) |
Then, Whitehead perform genetic analysis. And, strangeness is revealed. Killifish genes mutate so that a molecular pathway that serves to damage cells deliver signals that exposure to toxins deactivated.
Not only resistant to the toxin, the animals commonly used as ornamental fish also help cleanse toxins from the environment by accumulating in its body. Whitehead said furthermore, that the presence of animals are able to survive in the toxic environment is not always good news.
"Unfortunately, most of the species we preserve may not be able to adapt to the rapid changes because they do not have a genetic variation that allows it to evolve quickly," said Whitehead.
As quoted from Science Alert on Friday, December 8, 2016, Whitehead said that the great genetic variation that allows a species can survive well in line with the process of mutation. Killifish might survive, but not necessarily with the predators. Thus, the survival of killifish just not good news for the environment.. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SCIENCE ALERT]
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