Evolutionary biology: Why cattle, pigs only have two toes
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 - 19:31
in Biology & Nature
During evolutionary diversification of vertebrate limbs, the number of toes in even-toed ungulates such as cattle and pigs was reduced and transformed into paired hooves. Scientists have identified a gene regulatory switch that was key to evolutionary adaption of limbs in ungulates. The study provides insights into the molecular history of evolution.