Marine snails: Transition from egg-laying to live birth

Unraveling the genetic changes in marine snails

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A recent study has shed light on the genetic changes that allow marine snails to transition from egg-laying to live birth .

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This transition is an evolutionarily recent phenomenon and provides valuable insights into the genetic basis of live-bearing.

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The researchers focused on a specific species of marine snail called Littorina saxatilis, which has recently evolved live-bearing while its related species continue to lay eggs

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This species of snail is unique in terms of its breeding strategy, making it an ideal subject for studying the transition from egg-laying to live birth .

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The study found that the switch to live-bearing in marine snails is caused by approximately 50 genetic changes scattered throughout the snail genome .

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These genetic changes are responsible for the transition from egg-laying to giving birth to live offspring.

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