The platypus is quite possibly the most unusual creatures ever to have been discovered. They are in fact mammals as they lactate and have fur; however they display many other unusual characteristics. They lay eggs, produce venom and have a reptilian eye. They have a duck-like bill, webbed feet and sex determination similar to that of birds. They also have underwater chemical receptors similar to a hippopotamus and hunt using electroreception like sharks. It's no wonder then that there was some considerable scepticism over its authenticity when the first reports arrived in England, "...at first view, it naturally excites the idea of some deceptive preparation by artificial means…”
An international collaboration of scientists successfully sequenced the entire platypus genome in late 2007 and published their findings in the journal Nature in May 2008. As expected the genome had many surprises in store for the researches but this project wasn't purely a genetic exploration into some evolutionary "circus freak show." The platypus genome can potentially fill some important gaps in our current understanding of mammalian evolution, it provides a crucial link between reptiles, birds and placental mammals. The platypus is a wonderfully unique and supremely adapted creature whose genome is proving to be an incredibly useful tool in the new and exciting field of comparative genomics. Who knows what this fascinating creature has in store for us in the future.
References:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v453/n7192/full/nature06936.html
http://www.nature.com/nature/podcast/v453/n7192/nature-2008-05-08.html
http://nsaunders.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/a-brief-history-of-the-platypus-in-5-parts/
Pictures:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507131453.htm
http://sciencenotes.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/platypus-genome-is-sequenced/
