#genetic mutation

[papillondusublime]

Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time

One of the most devastating diseases finally has a treatment that can slow its progression and transform lives, tearful doctors tell BBC.

Excellente nouvelle: une thérapie génique permet de ralentir de 75% la progression de la maladie de Huntington! Causée par une protéine mutée qui tue les neurones, cette maladie héréditaire cause d'importants troubles moteurs (chorée, perte de l'équilibre), cognitifs et psychiatriques.

[pantheraleomelanochaita]

Ranger, a seemingly partially black male lion born in Glasgow Zoo in 1974. It was believed to be a form of melanism, but turns out it is actually mosaicism. He was born with a black right paw that stretched all the way up to his belly and chest and kept this as he grew up. He was bred with his own mother, Kara, in hopes of producing a more fully black lion, but ultimately did not conceive any cubs with any of the lionesses he mated with and was deemed entirely sterile.

photograph credits go to Richard O'Grady & Peter Adamson

[h8everything]

Life of the piebald deer;

[rebeccathenaturalist]

The flowers on the left in both of these pictures--common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) top and cat's ear (Hypochaeris. sp.) bottom--are examples of a mutation called fasciation. It's caused when the apical meristematic cells in the tip of the plant end up growing into a long, skinny formation instead of a round one. This can cause the stem and flowers to become wider and denser than normal, sometimes producing more flowers at one point of the stem than normal.

Fasciation can be caused when the plant's growth hormones become disrupted. However, it can also be a response to a wide range of infections, some insect infestations, and even some chemical pollutants in the environment. And, of course, there's always random genetic mutation! Fasciation isn't limited to the apical meristem that creates flowers, either; lateral root buds can also exhibit fasciation, for example in response to environmental factors.

[horygory]

The Thing (1982)

[moriartea221]

my obsession has returned. drew a sheet of the marfan sydrome characteristics. its shitty but whatever.

[reality-detective]

The Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus) is the largest bat in the world and is native to the Philippines. It's also known as the golden-capped fruit bat. 

Size: 

Can weigh up to 3 lbs

Has a wingspan of up to 5.5 ft

Habitat: 

Found throughout the Philippines, except for the Batanes and Babuyan island groups

Prefers mature, lowland forests, away from human activity

Conservation status: 

Endangered

Placed on the IUCN Red List in 2016 due to declining population numbers

Other large bats in the Philippines:

The Palawan fruit bat (Acerodon leucotis), also known as the Palawan flying fox, is a species of megabat found in forests of Palawan, Balabac and Busuanga 

The giant Philippine fruit bat (Pteropus vampyrus lanensis) 

Behavior: 

These bats primarily eat figs and leaves

They play an integral role in seed dispersal and pollination.

Genetic mutations, or a miracle of nature? 🤔

[thepastisalreadywritten]

Extremely rare piebald moose spotted in a man's backyard in Norway. 🤍