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The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is welcoming a new lion to its pride. Bo, a 7-year-old male African Lion moved to the Safari Park from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Researchers analyzed the DNA sequences from 240 mammalian species, showing how comparative genomics can shed light on how certain species achieve extraordinary feats and help scientists better understand the functional parts of the human genome. By identifying regions of the genomes that are most conserved across mammalian species, they pinpointed the genetic basis for uncommon mammalian traits, such as the ability to hibernate or detect faint scents from miles away. They also found genetic variants that are more likely to play causal roles in rare and common human diseases.
Scientists have found that at least 10 per cent of the human genome is highly conserved across species, with many of these regions occurring outside of protein-coding genes. They also found that more than 4,500 elements are almost perfectly conserved across more than 98 percent of the species studied.