Platypus origins explained: 08-05-2008
A Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis-led team of scientists has decoded the genome of the platypus - and found that the animal's DNA is almost as confused as its features.
While classed as a mammal as it produces milk and is covered with fur, scientists also found that the platypus has features normally attributed to reptiles or birds and even trademark characteristics of its own.
For instance, the platypus is one of only two mammals that lays eggs and has an electrosensory system in its duck-like bill to help it forage for food.
"At first glance, the platypus appears as if it was the result of an evolutionary accident," commented Dr Francis S Collins, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, which partially funded the project.
"But as weird as this animal looks, its genome sequence is priceless for understanding how mammalian biological processes evolved."
It is hoped that by decoding the platypus genome further insight can be gained into the function and evolution of other mammalian genomes.
The platypus is native to eastern Australia and Tasmania.