Latest news with #PLoSOne
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Scientists discover mystery genes behind a cat's purr and behaviour
A new study from Kyoto University suggests that cats with a gene type associated with mixed breeds may purr more at their human companions. The study, published in PLoS One, assessed the behavior of 280 spayed or neutered mixed-breed cats and analyzed their DNA, focusing on the androgen receptor gene. Researchers found that cats with the short-type androgen receptor gene showed higher owner-assessed purring, while male cats with this gene exhibited higher vocalization towards humans. Female cats with the short-type gene displayed higher stranger-directed aggression, and mixed-breed cats and rescues tended to meow more, contrasting with pure-breed cats who are more likely to carry the long-type gene. The findings suggest that longer androgen receptor genes in domestic cats may have emerged due to domestication and selective breeding, potentially helping predict house cat behavioral tendencies and enhance feline care.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Why some cats purr more than others finally decoded
Cats with a gene type associated with mixed breeds may purr more at their human companions than those without, according to a new study. The findings shed more light on the genetic basis of purring and communication in cats, say researchers from Kyoto University in Japan. Domesticated cats are social animals that communicate with other felines and humans. One way in which cats express themselves is through soft purrs, produced by a special mechanism in the vocal folds within the larynx. The purring sounds are made by relaxation of muscles in the vocal folds that require constant control from the brain via nerves. Some studies suggest that since kittens are born blind and deaf, they use purring vibration to communicate with their mother and littermates. While previous research indicates that purring may have evolved as a beneficial trait for feline communication, its exact function remains unclear. The latest study, published in the journal PLoS One, conducted a behaviour assessment of 280 cats, which were spayed or neutered mixed breeds kept in their owners' homes. Researchers collected DNA samples and analysed specifically the androgen receptor gene, comparing this to its version in other feline species. "When we called for participants, we were moved to receive responses from 265 cat owners from across Japan in just a single day, and received kind messages,' Yume Okamoto, first author of the study, said. The findings strongly point to a genetic basis for both purring and vocal communication in cats. Scientists found that cats with the short-type androgen receptor gene seemed to show higher owner-assessed purring than those with the long-type gene. Male cats with the short-type gene exhibited higher vocalisation towards humans, indicating the gene's connection to vocal communication, according to the study. In comparison, female cats with the short-type gene displayed higher stranger-directed aggression. The results indicate that there is less importance of vocal communication in cats raised by humans since kittenhood, which mostly happen to be pure-breed cats. On the contrary, many mixed-breed cats and rescues included in the study tended to meow more. This is in line with previous findings that pure-breed cats are more likely to carry the long-type gene than mixed-breed cats. Among wild feline species closely related to domesticated cats, the leopard cat and the fishing cat both possess only the short-type gene. In comparison, domestic cats have longer androgen receptor gene types that are not found in the other species. Overall, the findings suggest the emergence of these longer genes may have resulted from changes associated with domestication and selective breeding. Researchers hope the results can help predict house cat behavioural tendencies and facilitate enhanced care to help improve animal welfare. "Through our research, we hope to deepen our understanding of cats and contribute to building happier relationships between cats and humans," Dr Okamoto said.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Can Mexico bring back the endangered axolotl?
One of the world's most endangered amphibians – the primordial and fish-like axolotl – has successfully adapted to a new environment after being released into artificial wetlands in Mexico, scientists say. In a study that provides hope for the survival of the Ambystoma mexicanuma, a creature that has been pushed to the brink of extinction by pollution and human activity, scientists recently released 18 captive-bred axolotls into two artificial wetlands close to Mexico City. Researchers fitted the smiley-face amphibians with trackers and found they were feeding at both sites. Lead researcher Alejandra Ramos from the Autonomous University of Baja California told the BBC it was an 'amazing result'. The findings were published in the journal PLoS One and suggest the axolotl can be successfully restored to its native has it that the axolotl was not always an amphibian. Long before it became Mexico's most beloved salamander, it was believed to be the embodiment of the Aztec god of fire and lightning, Xolotl. While there are no official estimates on its current population, the species – which is endemic to central Mexico – was classed as 'critically endangered' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species in 2019. They breathe through their gills and skin, which allows them to adapt to their aquatic environment. They can also regenerate parts of their heart, spinal cord and brain. The salamander's skin is typically dark although an albino variety can be bred. They can stay stock still for hours in their natural habitat, buried in mud to conserve energy and wait for prey. In their main stronghold, Lake Xochimilco, located in the southern part of Mexico City, axolotl numbers have plummeted by 99.5 percent in less than two decades. In 1998, researchers estimated there were 6,000 axolotls per square kilometre in Lake Xochimilco. By 2014, this number had dropped to just 36. Mexico is a biodiversity hotspot for amphibians and reptiles owing to its unique and varied habitats from tropical rainforests and deserts to cloud forests and temperate woodlands. The waters of Xochimilco, once used for traditional farming and flushed with spring water from the mountains, used to teem with large, smiley-faced axolotls. But pollution from Mexico City's expanding urban sprawl has damaged the water quality of the city's canals, which flow into the lakes. Furthermore, rainbow trout, which have escaped from nearby farms, have displaced axolotls in lakes around the capital and eaten their food. Researchers have also found that increasing numbers of axolotls have died from chytrid fungus, a skin-eating disease causing a catastrophic reduction in amphibian numbers in other parts of the world from Europe to Australia. The fungus has also been found in Mexico although it is not yet a major problem. Climate change is another factor threatening the axolotl as even small shifts in temperature and rainfall can disrupt ecosystems and erode biodiversity. In 2013, scientists voiced fears that they might disappear altogether by 2025. The axolotl isn't the only species in Mexico facing an uncertain future. The pine forest stream frog, the clarion night snake and the Mexican alligator lizard are some of the other species that are also critically lay the foundations for the rewilding project, researchers meticulously monitored the ecology of the axolotls to establish their ideal living conditions. Then they worked with local farmers and a team of volunteers to create wetland 'refuges', or artificial wetlands, near Xochimilco by installing natural filtering systems to clean the water. The scientists then released the amphibians into two types of wetland environments: restored natural wetlands and the artificial wetlands designed specifically for conservation purposes. These environments differ in their ecological structure, water chemistry and temperatures, variables that are critical determinants of amphibian physiology and behaviour. The axolotls were tagged with radio tracking devices to keep tabs on the amphibians. One of the key findings from the study was the axolotls' ability to navigate and inhabit both artificial and restored wetland ecosystems effectively. While biologists and officials have led efforts to save the species and its habitat from extinction, a parallel, unexpected preservation phenomenon has emerged in recent years as the creature has benefitted from an unexpected resurgence of interest. The axolotl attracted international attention after the Minecraft computer game added the creature in 2021. That same year, the Bank of Mexico also decided to print an image of the animal on the 50-peso bill. Axolotls can now be spotted all over Mexico on murals, clothing and as children's toys. Some bakeries have caused a sensation with their axolotl-shaped cakes and biscuits. 'If we lose this species, we lose part of our Mexican identity,' co-lead researcher Luis Zambrano from the National University of Mexico told the BBC. Climate change, habitat loss and outbreaks of disease have taken their toll on amphibians around the world. Half of all amphibian species are in decline while a third are threatened with extinction. The team overseeing the axolotl study said public funding is key to preventing the loss of other species as well. Over his six-year term, however, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who was in office from 2018 to 2024, reduced funding to the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources by 35 percent. While scientists involved in the project hope to restore the axolotl's population, they also highlighted the need for government, business and individual engagement. 'Many animals are losing their habitat around the world,' Ramos said. 'And restoration projects are not easy, but they can be done. They just need a lot of people.'
Al Jazeera
01-05-2025
- Science
- Al Jazeera
Can Mexico bring back the endangered axolotl?
One of the world's most endangered amphibians – the primordial and fish-like axolotl – has successfully adapted to a new environment after being released into artificial wetlands in Mexico, scientists say. In a study that provides hope for the survival of the Ambystoma mexicanuma, a creature that has been pushed to the brink of extinction by pollution and human activity, scientists recently released 18 captive-bred axolotls into two artificial wetlands close to Mexico City. Researchers fitted the smiley-face amphibians with trackers and found they were feeding at both sites. Lead researcher Alejandra Ramos from the Autonomous University of Baja California told the BBC it was an 'amazing result'. The findings were published in the journal PLoS One and suggest the axolotl can be successfully restored to its native habitat. Legend has it that the axolotl was not always an amphibian. Long before it became Mexico's most beloved salamander, it was believed to be the embodiment of the Aztec god of fire and lightning, Xolotl. While there are no official estimates on its current population, the species – which is endemic to central Mexico – was classed as 'critically endangered' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species in 2019. They breathe through their gills and skin, which allows them to adapt to their aquatic environment. They can also regenerate parts of their heart, spinal cord and brain. The salamander's skin is typically dark although an albino variety can be bred. They can stay stock still for hours in their natural habitat, buried in mud to conserve energy and wait for prey. In their main stronghold, Lake Xochimilco, located in the southern part of Mexico City, axolotl numbers have plummeted by 99.5 percent in less than two decades. In 1998, researchers estimated there were 6,000 axolotls per square kilometre in Lake Xochimilco. By 2014, this number had dropped to just 36. Mexico is a biodiversity hotspot for amphibians and reptiles owing to its unique and varied habitats from tropical rainforests and deserts to cloud forests and temperate woodlands. The waters of Xochimilco, once used for traditional farming and flushed with spring water from the mountains, used to teem with large, smiley-faced axolotls. But pollution from Mexico City's expanding urban sprawl has damaged the water quality of the city's canals, which flow into the lakes. Furthermore, rainbow trout, which have escaped from nearby farms, have displaced axolotls in lakes around the capital and eaten their food. Researchers have also found that increasing numbers of axolotls have died from chytrid fungus, a skin-eating disease causing a catastrophic reduction in amphibian numbers in other parts of the world from Europe to Australia. The fungus has also been found in Mexico although it is not yet a major problem. Climate change is another factor threatening the axolotl as even small shifts in temperature and rainfall can disrupt ecosystems and erode biodiversity. In 2013, scientists voiced fears that they might disappear altogether by 2025. The axolotl isn't the only species in Mexico facing an uncertain future. The pine forest stream frog, the clarion night snake and the Mexican alligator lizard are some of the other species that are also critically endangered. To lay the foundations for the rewilding project, researchers meticulously monitored the ecology of the axolotls to establish their ideal living conditions. Then they worked with local farmers and a team of volunteers to create wetland 'refuges', or artificial wetlands, near Xochimilco by installing natural filtering systems to clean the water. The scientists then released the amphibians into two types of wetland environments: restored natural wetlands and the artificial wetlands designed specifically for conservation purposes. These environments differ in their ecological structure, water chemistry and temperatures, variables that are critical determinants of amphibian physiology and behaviour. The axolotls were tagged with radio tracking devices to keep tabs on the amphibians. One of the key findings from the study was the axolotls' ability to navigate and inhabit both artificial and restored wetland ecosystems effectively. While biologists and officials have led efforts to save the species and its habitat from extinction, a parallel, unexpected preservation phenomenon has emerged in recent years as the creature has benefitted from an unexpected resurgence of interest. The axolotl attracted international attention after the Minecraft computer game added the creature in 2021. That same year, the Bank of Mexico also decided to print an image of the animal on the 50-peso bill. Axolotls can now be spotted all over Mexico on murals, clothing and as children's toys. Some bakeries have caused a sensation with their axolotl-shaped cakes and biscuits. 'If we lose this species, we lose part of our Mexican identity,' co-lead researcher Luis Zambrano from the National University of Mexico told the BBC. Climate change, habitat loss and outbreaks of disease have taken their toll on amphibians around the world. Half of all amphibian species are in decline while a third are threatened with extinction. The team overseeing the axolotl study said public funding is key to preventing the loss of other species as well. Over his six-year term, however, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who was in office from 2018 to 2024, reduced funding to the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources by 35 percent. While scientists involved in the project hope to restore the axolotl's population, they also highlighted the need for government, business and individual engagement. 'Many animals are losing their habitat around the world,' Ramos said. 'And restoration projects are not easy, but they can be done. They just need a lot of people.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Endangered axolotl release raises hopes for rare amphibian
One of the world's most endangered amphibians - the strange, perpetually smiling Mexican axolotl - has thrived after being released in artificial wetlands, scientists have discovered. In a study that provides hope for the long-term future of a creature that was pushed to the brink of extinction, scientists released 18 captive-bred axolotls in restored and artificial wetland close to Mexico City. The researchers fitted the animals with radio trackers and found that they "survived and foraged successfully at both sites" - even gaining weight. Lead researcher Dr Alejandra Ramos from the Autonomous University of Baja California said this was an "amazing result". The findings are published in the journal PLoS One and they suggest, the researchers say, that the axoltol can be brought back to its native habitat. The waters of Xochimilco - shaped by traditional farming practices and flushed with spring water from the mountains - used to teem with these amphibians. But as Mexico City grew, urbanisation, pollution and other pressures pushed axolotls to the brink of extinction, with some estimates suggesting that there were as few as 50 left in the wild. "If we lose this species, we lose part of our Mexican identity," said co-lead researcher Dr Luis Zambrano from the National University of Mexico. It is no exaggeration to call the axoltol an icon. Aztec legend has it that the creature is a god in salamander form - the Aztec god of fire and lightning, Xolotl, disguised as a salamander. "If we can restore this [wetland] habitat and restore the axolotl's population in a city of more than 20 million people," Dr Zambrano continued, "I feel that we have hope for humanity." To lay the foundations for releasing the animals, the researchers worked with local farmers and a team of volunteers to create wetland "refuges" for the axolotls. They installed natural filtering systems to clean the water, The scientists released their captive-bred animals at two sites - one in Xochimilco and one at a disused quarry that, over decades, has turned into what they called an "artificial wetland". Every animal was tagged with a radio tracking device. "The amazing news is that they all survived," Dr Ramos told BBC News. "And not only that, but the ones that we recaptured had gained weight - so they're hunting." The monitoring also revealed intriguing insights into axolotl behaviour. "We found that some spend most of their time with with one other individual - like they make these little friendships," Dr Ramos explained. Somewhat ironically, these charismatic salamanders are found in the world's laboratories and pet aquariums in their hundreds of thousands. The species is biologically fascinating - it has the remarkable ability to regrow any part of its body that is damaged or lost. So there is research underway to understand whether that ability could be harnessed medically. But in the murky wetlands of Mexico City, there is still a great deal of work to do to clean up and restore the habitat, and to give the wild axolotl a chance to recover. "Many animals are losing their habitat around the world," said Dr Ramos. "And restoration projects are not easy, but they can be done - they just need a lot of people. "You don't need to be a scientist to get involved - everybody in the world can help out."
