A new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution has uncovered the genomic secrets of the muskox, an ancient species of Arctic mammal that has been able to survive and thrive in one of the world’s harshest environments for hundreds of thousands of years. Researchers used the latest genomic technologies to analyze the genomes of muskoxen and found an array of genes and genetic pathways that have enabled the species to adapt to its extreme environment. These findings provide insight into how genetic variations in the muskox population have been shaped by natural selection and could help inform conservation strategies for the species, as well as provide new insights into the evolutionary history of mammals.

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source: Phys.org