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Playinghardball's JournalHumans and squid evolved same eyes using same genes
Eyes and wings are among the most stunning innovations evolution has created. Remarkably these features have evolved multiple times in different lineages of animals. For instance, the avian ancestors of birds and the mammalian ancestors of bats both evolved wings independently, in an example of convergent evolution. The same happened for the eyes of squid and humans. Exactly how such convergent evolution arises is not always clear.
In a new study, published in Nature Scientific Reports, researchers have found that, despite belonging to completely different lineages, humans and squid evolved through tweaks to the same gene.
Eyes are the prize
Like all organs, the eye is the product of many genes working together. The majority of those genes provide information about how to make part of the eye. For example, one gene provides information to construct a light-sensitive pigment. Another gene provides information to make a lens.
Most of the genes involved in making the eye read like a parts list – this gene makes this, and that gene makes that. But some genes orchestrate the construction of the eye. Rather than providing instructions to make an eye part, these genes provide information about where and when parts need to be constructed and assembled. In keeping with their role in controlling the process of eye formation, these genes are called “master control genes”.
The most important of master control genes implicated in making eyes is called Pax6. The ancestral Pax6 gene probably orchestrated the formation of a very simple eye – merely a collection of light-sensing cells working together to inform a primitive organism of when it was out in the open versus in the dark, or in the shade.
Today the legacy of that early Pax6 gene lives on in an incredible diversity of organisms, from birds and bees, to shellfish and whales, from squid to you and me. This means the Pax6 gene predates the evolutionary diversification of these lineages – during the Cambrian period, some 500m years ago.
The Pax6 gene now directs the formation of an amazing diversity of eye types. Beyond the simple eye, it is responsible for insects’ compound eye, which uses a group of many light-sensing parts to construct a full image. It is also responsible for the type of eye we share with our vertebrate kin: camera eye, an enclosed structure with its iris and lens, liquid interior, and image-sensing retina.
More here: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/05/09/humans-and-squid-evolved-same-eyes-using-same-genes/
ObamaCare Is Working – And The GOP Is Shifting Its Attack
After pounding Democrats on ObamaCare for the last several years, Republicans have a big problem. The law is working and their message is falling flat. This was confirmed again by testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee yesterday in which health care industry executives surprised Republican lawmakers. They said the law has not led to a government takeover of the industry, that most enrollees are paying their premiums as required, and that premiums are not certain to go up next year as Republicans claim. With more than 8 million people enrolled in health plans through the ObamaCare exchanges, many Republicans know it’s much harder to repeal the law now than it might have been several years ago. And they tried more than 50 times already without success.
More here: https://theweek.com/article/index/261245/with-obamacare-working-gop-shifts-attack
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We saw the new Ivanpah solar plant off of I-15 near the CA/NV border...
It was AWESOME!These solar generating plants looked like something from another planet.
It was pretty windy that day so the cell phone photo out of my side window wasn't that good...
http://www.brightsourceenergy.com/ivanpah-solar-project#.U2wEZkZOXX4
The electricity generated by all three plants is enough to serve more than 140,000 homes in California during the peak hours of the day.
The complex will reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by more than 400,000 tons per year.
Touching Troop Commercial Surprises You With An Unexpected Twist
This is one of the most heartwarming soldier commercials we’ve seen yet. Troops today are welcomed home like the heroes they are and have many resources at their disposal. Our Vietnam war vets were spit on, cursed at and treated like terrorists in some cases. They never got the respect they deserved when they came home. This commercial hits our Vietnam vets right where it counts – with honor and respect. Watch this touching troop commercial and share it with your friends and family.
Check out this ultimate selfie...
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Her only goal was to help her town, but today she was in the President's speech, & got her ultimate selfie. #ObamaAR
1:10 PM - 7 May 2014
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ObamaAR&src=hash
http://theobamadiary.com/
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