Young Autumn Owl wallpaper. I couldn’t identify the species. It appears to be a juvenile and might be a native of Asia or Europe.
It seems like every year we get another story on the Tasmanian “tiger”. Maybe because it didn’t become extinct until the early 1900s some hold out hope there may be a few left or that they can be brought back by cloning, Genetic secrets from Tassie tiger
Scientists have detailed a significant proportion of the genes found in the extinct Tasmanian “tiger”.
The international team extracted the hereditary information from the hair of preserved animal remains held in Swedish and US museums.
The information has allowed scientists to confirm the tiger’s evolutionary relationship to other marsupials.
The study, reported in the journal Genome Research, may also give pointers as to why some animals die out.
The two tigers examined had near-identical DNA, suggesting there was very little genetic diversity in the species when it went over the edge.
Not to condemn hunting and hunters, but it was irresponsible hunting that pushed the thylacines to extinction. One researcher in this article suggests that even without hunting the thylacines may have been heaeded to extinction anyway because of the lack of genetic diversity since its population had dwindled down to so few individuals. Though hunting and loss of habitat were the two major factors in contributing to such a small gene pool. In may of 2008 some biologists were able to extract genes from a Tasmanian tiger and inject them into a mouse
The results showed that the thylacine Col2a1 gene has a similar function in developing cartilage and bone development as the Col2a1 gene does in the mouse.
“This is the first time that DNA from an extinct species has been used to induce a functional response in another living organism,” said Dr Andrew Pask, RD Wright Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Department of Zoology who led the research.
“As more and more species of animals become extinct, we are continuing to lose critical knowledge of gene function and their potential.”
Some old black and white film of a thylacine on YouTube.
Austin program works to restore wildlife habitat
“The idea behind it is to maintain biodiversity even in the middle of growth and development,” she said. “It’s also about reducing your carbon footprint, not watering or mowing as much and bringing wildlife and nature into your everyday life.”
It’s easy to create a habitat, Nance said, because most backyards already include many of the features required for certification. Some of the food, water and shelter sources that qualify as habitat-friendly include berries, pollen, bird baths, brush piles and thickets. And the sustainable gardening practices include using mulch, composting and limiting water use.
Yards don’t have to be big to be habitats.
Frances Allen ‘s 75-by-130-foot yard in Central Austin abuts MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1). Even with the din of nearby traffic, the space feels like a secluded slice of nature. A tall pecan tree, a compost pile, a small fountain and plants such as American Beautyberry shrubs draw cardinals, blue jays and sparrows.
When I see those rolling green lawns I think off a green desert. Except for a few insects and invasive weeds nothing can really live in them. To even call neatly trimmed expanses of hybridized grass deserts is giving more credit then they’re due since deserts support a natural ecosystem system.
tangledwing 