DNA tests show Lonesome George may not have been last of his species
DNA analysis discovered 17 hybrid tortoises which can trace ancestry to
Chelonoidis abingdoni, the species thought to have gone extinct with
the death of Lonesome George this summer. The age of some of the hybrids
found on a remote island in the Galapagos suggests that there may be
purebred individuals still alive on a remote pa
rt of Isabela Island.
When the giant tortoise Lonesome George died this summer,
conservationists from around the world mourned the extinction his
species. However, a genetic analysis by Yale University researchers of
tortoises living in a remote area of a Galapagos Island suggests
individuals of the same tortoise species may still be alive — perhaps
ancestors of tortoises thrown overboard by 19th century sailors.
The study was published in the journal Biological Conservation.
On the remote northern tip of Isabella Island, the Yale team collected
DNA from more than 1,600 giant tortoises and discovered that 17 were
ancestors of the species Chelonoidis abingdoni, native to Pinta Island
of which Lonesome George was the last known survivor. The 17 tortoises
are hybrids, but evidence suggested a few might be the offspring of a
purebred C. abingdoni parent. Five of these tortoises are juveniles,
which suggested to researchers that purebred individuals of the species
may still live on the rocky cliffs of Isabella in an area called Volcano
Wolf.
http://news.yale.edu/2012/11/
DNA tests show Lonesome George may not have been last of his species
DNA analysis discovered 17 hybrid tortoises which can trace ancestry to Chelonoidis abingdoni, the species thought to have gone extinct with the death of Lonesome George this summer. The age of some of the hybrids found on a remote island in the Galapagos suggests that there may be purebred individuals still alive on a remote pa
DNA analysis discovered 17 hybrid tortoises which can trace ancestry to Chelonoidis abingdoni, the species thought to have gone extinct with the death of Lonesome George this summer. The age of some of the hybrids found on a remote island in the Galapagos suggests that there may be purebred individuals still alive on a remote pa
rt of Isabela Island.
When the giant tortoise Lonesome George died this summer, conservationists from around the world mourned the extinction his species. However, a genetic analysis by Yale University researchers of tortoises living in a remote area of a Galapagos Island suggests individuals of the same tortoise species may still be alive — perhaps ancestors of tortoises thrown overboard by 19th century sailors.
The study was published in the journal Biological Conservation.
On the remote northern tip of Isabella Island, the Yale team collected DNA from more than 1,600 giant tortoises and discovered that 17 were ancestors of the species Chelonoidis abingdoni, native to Pinta Island of which Lonesome George was the last known survivor. The 17 tortoises are hybrids, but evidence suggested a few might be the offspring of a purebred C. abingdoni parent. Five of these tortoises are juveniles, which suggested to researchers that purebred individuals of the species may still live on the rocky cliffs of Isabella in an area called Volcano Wolf.
http://news.yale.edu/2012/11/
When the giant tortoise Lonesome George died this summer, conservationists from around the world mourned the extinction his species. However, a genetic analysis by Yale University researchers of tortoises living in a remote area of a Galapagos Island suggests individuals of the same tortoise species may still be alive — perhaps ancestors of tortoises thrown overboard by 19th century sailors.
The study was published in the journal Biological Conservation.
On the remote northern tip of Isabella Island, the Yale team collected DNA from more than 1,600 giant tortoises and discovered that 17 were ancestors of the species Chelonoidis abingdoni, native to Pinta Island of which Lonesome George was the last known survivor. The 17 tortoises are hybrids, but evidence suggested a few might be the offspring of a purebred C. abingdoni parent. Five of these tortoises are juveniles, which suggested to researchers that purebred individuals of the species may still live on the rocky cliffs of Isabella in an area called Volcano Wolf.
http://news.yale.edu/2012/11/
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