Publications by authors named "Valeria A Volodkina"
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
June 2019
Article Synopsis
- Researchers found a unique extra chromosome, called a germline-restricted chromosome (GRC), in zebra and Bengalese finches, which is only passed on through female birds and not present in their body cells or sperm.
- GRCs vary in size and genetic makeup across all 16 songbird species studied but are not found in eight other types of birds, suggesting a specific evolutionary trait of songbirds.
- The study also indicates that the GRC likely originated in the common ancestor of songbirds and has significantly evolved in their descendant species, showing minimal similarities between different songbird GRCs.
