Scientists find a "universal genetic formula" that determines monogamy



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A team of experts from the University of Texas (Austin, USA), who has examined 10 species of vertebrates, says she has discovered that evolution has used a kind of "universal genetic formula" to convert species that are not familiar to monogamous species. They were. The study, led by researcher Rebecca Young, was published in a journal of the National Academy of Sciences.

According to the statement, the authors define monogamy in animals as a connection to a partner in at least one seasons of mating, in which fragrances are divided and their descendants are defended together.

Changes in the brain

In this way, the team examined five pairs of related species –four mammals, two birds, two frogs and two fish– in which one was a monogamous member, while the other was not monogamous. These five couples represent five times in the context of the development of vertebrates in which monogamy arose independently. For example, when non-monogamous rodents "microtus pennsylvanicus" and their tight monogamous "microtus ochrogaster" were diverted into two separate species.

In their study, the researchers found that with each similar evolutionary passage the same was true changes in the expression of genes in the male brain of these species. This allowed the identification of a common evolutionary formula that led to the establishment of some links in five species that behave monogamously.

The study covers a longer evolutionary time period than previously investigated. Rebecca Young stressed that she is dealing with this work 450 million years of evolution, "that's all because all these species had a common ancestor".

He added that "most people do not expect that in over 450 million years, the transition to such complex behavior will happen the same every time."

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