Secret to Sloths’ Slow Life May Lie in Ancient ‘Jumping Genes’
Researchers have sequenced the genomes of sloths to understand their exceptionally slow metabolism. The study identified ancient 'jumping genes' linked to mitochondrial function that may explain how these mammals evolved to conserve energy.
Why it matters
Understanding unique metabolic adaptations in animals can provide insights into evolutionary biology and potential breakthroughs in human metabolic health.
Along with armadillos and anteaters, sloths are members of Xenarthra, the only clade of placental mammals to have originated in South America. In new research, scientists sequenced and analyzed chromosome-level genomes of the Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth ( Choloepus didactylus ) and the southern anteater ( Tamandua tetradactyla ) . They identified unusual genetic elements tied to energy production in the sloths, offering clues to how these animals evolved the slowest metabolism of any mammal.
The article is a straightforward report on scientific research findings.
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