大象传媒

A single gene that regulates testosterone levels in a 鈥渃razy鈥� species of shore bird controls the development of three wildly different types of males, an international study involving researchers at 大象传媒 has found.

A  on the cover of the journal Science this month has discovered that these morphs are produced by a super enzyme (HSD17B2) in the blood of the birds that鈥檚 able to regulate testosterone levels in males and rapidly break down the hormone normally associated with male dominance and aggression.
 
鈥淭he species is crazy, with three kinds of outlandish looking and behaving males,鈥� says David Lank, a biologist at 大象传媒 who has studied ruffs for 40 years and whose team first discovered the testosterone differences between the morphs. 鈥淭his paper explains a lot about the genetic and physiological process that control the development of the three types.鈥�

Read more on 大象传媒 Science News.