Bengal tigers have a white color is not due to a genetic defect. The reason for their unusual color is a change in one of the pigments, which occurred in the course of evolution, Chinese scientists believe.
In 1951, the Indian jungle was first discovered by the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) white. And in 1958, as it turned out, people were killed last of these animals living in the wild. Now the white tigers can be seen except in some zoos. For many years it was thought that individuals Bengal tiger with white color – ordinary albinos, and not a separate subspecies. But over time, the researchers found that this is not so: there could be an albino black stripes.
a relatively small number of animals, and as a result, and the lack of genetic material led to the phenomenon of white tigers has been studied rather superficially.
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However with the advancement of technology it became possible to carry out various studies, including the shortage of the necessary samples. A team of scientists from the Beijing University, Tsinghua has studied the genetic characteristics of white Bengal tigers and their normal counterparts living in safari park «Chimelong» (Guangzhou). As a result, they found that
unusual color is a genetic defect, but due to objective reasons.
The results of the study can be found in the latest issue of the prestigious scientific journal Current Biology .
Originally
Chinese researchers did not plan to study the white tigers, and simply restore the population engaged in the issue of Bengal tigers in the wild. However, after we found evidence confirming that
these individuals met in the Indian subcontinent in the XVI century, the scientists decided to try to find out what really is the cause of unusual color tigers: a genetic defect or sequential evolutionary change.
For this, they went to the safari park «Chimelong», where they took tissue samples from living there 16 tigers, seven of whom were white.
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genetic map was drawn up by which scientists were able to establish that the unusual color caused by a change of one of the amino acids in the gene SLC45A2 . As a result, it was not possible formation of pheomelanin – natural yellow pigment that at the same time had no effect on melanin – the pigment black. A similar situation is observed in other animals, such as chickens, horses, and fish, with the corresponding color. This is a strong argument in favor of the
of chronic deficiencies suffered by the white tigers – strabismus, clubfoot, curvature of the spine – was the result of inbreeding, but thanks to which it is now possible to maintain the population of these animals.
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Here is what “the Newspaper” Dr. Lo Shutszin of Peking University, Tsinghua , which is one of the direct participants in the study: “In the two years it has become apparent that the total destruction of white tigers has led it anthropogenic factor, and not some genetic effects. Unusual for a jungle color could not stop hunting animals, because their traditional prey – deer – are color-blind. Therefore,
quite possible to try to restore the population of white tigers in the wild ».
From now on the white Bengal tiger does not hang the label of “non-viable mutant,” and he fully rehabilitated in the eyes of the world scientific community. However, Chinese scientists are not going to stop there: in the future, they plan to find out whether it is possible to eliminate genetic defects caused by interbred white tigers with their normal counterparts.
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