The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. Non Life Sciences
  3. Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology
  4. Do half horse, half donkey genes suggest a mule?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Do half horse, half donkey genes suggest a mule?

  • 2 Replies
  • 6538 Views
  • 0 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Sverre Vigander

  • Guest
Do half horse, half donkey genes suggest a mule?
« on: 20/01/2011 06:30:04 »
Sverre Vigander  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hi,

I just listened to the November podcast of Naked Archeology, and I have a question about the Roman horse or donkey that was discussed early in the programme.

The extracted DNA was half horse, half donkey, and the possibilities that were presented on the show were all about how and where a contamination or analysis error could have occured.

Why not the obvious answer (to a lay person like me): Could it not have been a mule?

(I'm sure this was considered by the researchers, and probably immediately  discarded for reasons that are obvious to someone in the know, but the possibility wasn't even mentioned, so I thought I'd ask...)

Thanks again for a great podcast!

Regards,
Sverre Vigander, Norway

What do you think?
« Last Edit: 20/01/2011 14:50:47 by BenV »
Logged
 



Offline CliffordK

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 6408
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 15 times
  • Site Moderator
    • View Profile
  • Best Answer
  • Re: Do half horse, half donkey genes suggest a mule?
    « Reply #1 on: 20/01/2011 08:30:03 »
    Equine genetics are pretty extraordinary that they can interbreed.

    Modern horses have 64 chromosomes
    Donkeys have 62 chromosomes
    Zebras have either 32 or 46 chromosomes depending on the subspecies. 

    So, a mule has half horse, half donkey chromosomes, and a total of 63 chromosomes. 
    A zebroid will have either 48 or 55 chromosomes (32 horse + either 16 or 23 zebra).

    The gene distribution on the chromosomes is slightly different too.

    Meiosis with mules/zebroids is unstable, and you can't get a good set of chromosomes, and thus the animals are sterile.

    So...
    The problem is according to the show is that the DNA fragments had half horse, half donkey DNA.  However, a mule should have a 100% complete set of horse DNA, and every chromosome should have been intact when the animal was alive.  It should also have a 100% complete set of donkey DNA, and every chromosome should have been intact (2000 years ago).

    If mules could breed, you could have crossovers.  But, since they are sterile, you shouldn't.

    It sounds to me like they need to re-run the DNA.

    Logged
     

    Offline Mazurka

    • Hero Member
    • *****
    • 510
    • Activity:
      0%
    • Thanked: 1 times
      • View Profile
  • Best Answer
  • Re: Do half horse, half donkey genes suggest a mule?
    « Reply #2 on: 20/01/2011 14:41:38 »
    My understanding is that whilst all male mules are sterile, not all female mules are.
    I don't know if this helps!
    Logged
     



    • Print
    Pages: [1]   Go Up
    « previous next »
    Tags:
     

    Similar topics (5)

    Turning On And Turning Off Genes

    Started by Curious AshBoard Physiology & Medicine

    Replies: 2
    Views: 3202
    Last post 06/08/2008 19:18:56
    by Curious Ash
    What are "Cancer Genes"?

    Started by paul.frBoard Cells, Microbes & Viruses

    Replies: 13
    Views: 17046
    Last post 03/02/2008 00:27:48
    by MayoFlyFarmer
    Are genes expressed in the brain expressed elsewhere?

    Started by thedocBoard General Science

    Replies: 1
    Views: 3577
    Last post 18/02/2013 17:20:47
    by thedoc
    Could meat genes be added to plants to make meat fit for vegetarians?

    Started by distimpsonBoard Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution

    Replies: 5
    Views: 3119
    Last post 09/07/2013 19:58:26
    by distimpson
    Is it possible to mix human an animal genes to give super abilities?

    Started by Justin ChambleeBoard Cells, Microbes & Viruses

    Replies: 4
    Views: 10923
    Last post 21/10/2015 18:38:28
    by Avedis
    There was an error while thanking
    Thanking...
    • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
      Privacy Policy
      SMFAds for Free Forums
    • Naked Science Forum ©

    Page created in 0.105 seconds with 41 queries.

    • Podcasts
    • Articles
    • Get Naked
    • About
    • Contact us
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Subscribe to newsletter
    • We love feedback

    Follow us

    cambridge_logo_footer.png

    ©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.