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- Purrrfect Mutant | Tick Spit | Oreology
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Purrrfect Mutant
We finally know how cats are orange. Researchers identified the feline alternative to MC1R receptors responsible for most mammalian pigmentation.
Cat-orange is caused by a mutation of the Arhgap36 gene
Increases orange and suppresses dark pigments
Located on the X chromosome = gendered patterns
Females with the mutation often exhibit calico-like patterns, where males are usually a solid color. Further research could uncover more color-defining mutations in cats and other animals. Meow that’s science!
Quick! (vote)What’s your favorite cat sound? |
Check out last week’s results in “Unnatural Selection” below
Tick Spit
The secret to ticks’ cling-strength: cement. Their saliva contains a bioadhesive that creates a cement cone to stay snug.
Uniquely adheres to living tissue (unlike mussel or spider bioadhesives)
Key ingredient: glycine-rich protein GRP77
Becomes cement-like when exposed to salt
Researchers successfully replicated tick saliva’s bonding strength with synthetic spit, potentially leading to improved medical bioadhesives and anti-tick vaccines. Anyone else check for ticks after reading this?
Oreology
(the tick story reminded me of this great adhesion research, enjoy!)
Does Oreo filling stick to the left cookie, or the right? Fortnuately for us, MIT researchers enjoy playing with “trilayer laminate composites”, aka Oreos.
Twist tension measured via rheometer
Multiple Oreo types were studied (regular, double stuff, Golden…)
Oreos behaved like carbon nanotube stress fluids
Researchers found split bias is determined by the level of adhesion generated during manufacturing. Twisting the cookies faster or slower only affects the probability of breaking the wafer. Sounds like a citizen science project!
Why are you seeing this ad? I need to buy more Oreos…for science!
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Clickables
👀 Jumping cocoons hide a parasitic secret
🐋 Record-breaking whale migrated over 8,000 miles
🧽 Antarctica hosts 11,000-year-old sponges
🚁 Martian helicopter evolved into a weather station
Unnatural Selection
Last week: “Which arthropod made a cooler superhero?”
All they need is a dozen-ish more movies to rival spiders for arthro-hero supremacy!
Make sure you vote up top for next week’s “Unnatural Selection”!
st3v on site
Tick Testing
On one hand, synthetic tick adhesive is strong enough to hold up st3v! On two hands…it’s a problem.
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