This week’s episode of the Best of Quirks & Quarks with Bob McDonald presented a fascinating study that suggests blue whales are genetically healthy but are breeding with fin whales. The researchers sequenced the genome of a blue whale that washed up in Newfoundland in 2014 and conducted a comparative study of North Atlantic blue whales. The team, led by Mark Engstrom, curator emeritus at the Royal Ontario Museum, discovered that despite their small population, the whales are genetically diverse and connected across the North Atlantic. Surprisingly, they also found that the average blue whales from this group are genetically about 3.5% fin whale. This study was published in the journal Conservation Genetics.
In another segment, the episode delved into the future of our solar system as our sun evolves into a white dwarf star. Over billions of years, our sun, along with stars of similar size, will first swell into a red giant star before contracting into a small, dense white dwarf star. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, a new study surveyed nearby white dwarf star systems to understand the fate of their planets. Astronomer Susan Mullally pointed out that this research could help predict the destiny of our planet as well. The findings will be published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The intricate relationships within ecosystems were highlighted in a study in Kenya, which revealed how an invasive ant led to elephants knocking down trees, affecting the hunting behavior of lions targeting zebras, ultimately impacting buffalo. Adam Ford from the University of British Columbia, Okanagan, was part of the team that conducted this study, published in Science.
The fascinating evolution of humans and other great apes losing their tails over 25 million years ago was explored in another segment. A tiny genetic mutation, identified in a study in the journal Nature by Itai Yanai from New York University Grossman Medical School, was found to be responsible for this evolutionary change. By duplicating this mutation in mice, they also lost their tails, demonstrating the impact of this genetic fluke.
The episode also touched on the potential of pharmacology to enhance health and well-being. New weight loss drugs, originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, are now being explored for their broader benefits, including treating kidney disease, addiction-related disorders, metabolic liver disease, and more. Similarly, research is ongoing to develop drugs that mimic the effects of exercise, potentially providing benefits similar to physical activity.
Overall, this week’s episode of Best of Quirks & Quarks with Bob McDonald offered a diverse range of intriguing topics, from genetic studies of whales to the evolution of humans and the potential of pharmacology to improve health outcomes. The scientific research presented in each segment sheds light on different aspects of our world and offers insights into the complex and interconnected nature of life on Earth.
