The Remarkable Adaptation of the Antarctic Icefish: How a Specialized Species Survived in Extremely Cold Conditions
A recent study has revealed a fascinating evolutionary adaptation in a specialized species of fish known as the icefish. It has been found that the cold-water adapted species underwent major changes in its genetic code over the past 16 million years, allowing it to survive in Antarctica’s icy waters.
The icefish species are the only vertebrates known to survive in the extremely cold waters of the Southern Ocean, which can reach temperatures of -2.2°C. To survive in such an environment, the fish have evolved a suite of unique adaptations, including an antifreeze glycoprotein that prevents its blood from freezing.
The new study, published in the journal Nature, has revealed the genetic basis for these remarkable adaptations by analyzing the genomes of several icefish species. The results show that the species have experienced a rapid evolution in their genetic code, with several genes evolving at a much faster rate than other vertebrates.
source: Phys.org