Why Are Some Canadian Squirrels Black?
Description
This template was adapted from the original submission. Edits were made to enhance scientific accuracy, optimal usability and/or to meet industry-leading design standards for science communication.
The melanocortin-1-receptor (MC1R) is involved in regulating the production of melanin. In North American squirrel populations, a specific mutation in the MC1R gene (MC1RΔ24) maintains the active state and promotes the production of eumelanin, resulting in dark colouration. The mutation likely appeared first in fox squirrels before being spread to gray squirrels through interbreeding.
Acknowledgements
References
Letzter, R.. (2019) Scientists Figure Out Why There Are Black Squirrels All Over the United States. LIVESCIENCE. https://www.livescience.com/where-did-black-gray-squirrels-come-from.html
Unknown. (2020) Why are some squirrels of the same species different colours?. Wildlife Online. https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/questions/answer/why-are-some-squirrels-of-the-same-species-different-colours
Unknown. (2020) Cute and Cool Facts About the Relatively Rare Black Squirrels. AnimalSake. https://animalsake.com/facts-about-black-squirrels
Get started with this template for freeDon’t start from scratch.
Create professional scientific illustrations quickly and easily, even without any design expertise
- Get started with a huge library of editable icons and templates such as common biological pathways, anatomy, or genetics.
- Create figures that effectively communicate your research in half the time using our editable icons.
- Use our PDB tool to quickly generate and customize protein structures
.gif)
