Dec. 19, 2012 ? Like sheets of paper marked with perforated lines, gecko tails have unique structural marks that help them sever their tails to make a quick getaway. Though voluntarily shedding a body part in this manner is a well-known phenomenon, research published December 19 in the open access journal PLOS ONE reveals aspects of the process that may have applications for structural engineers making similar, quickly detachable structures.
Jan Enghild and colleagues from Aarhus University, Denmark, used advanced bio-imaging techniques to discover that a Tokay gecko sheds its tail along pre-formed "score lines" in specific regions of the tail, which is held together by adhesive forces at these lines.
The process of separation is independent of protein-cleaving enzymes, and microstructures at the ends of muscle fibers are most likely involved in the release of the tail. Enghild adds, "Our work has been driven by a curiosity to understand how tail autotomy is facilitated among lizards. In the present work we use a combination of advanced protein- and high-resolution imaging- techniques to address the mechanism involved in the process."
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Public Library of Science.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Kristian W. Sanggaard, Carl Chr. Danielsen, Lise Wogensen, Mads S. Vinding, Louise M. Rydtoft, Martin B. Mortensen, Henrik Karring, Niels Chr. Nielsen, Tobias Wang, Ida B. Th?gersen, Jan J. Enghild. Unique Structural Features Facilitate Lizard Tail Autotomy. PLoS ONE, 2012; 7 (12): e51803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051803
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/B-EIS9KNT-4/121219173910.htm
Turkey Cooking Times wal mart happy thanksgiving Butterball mashed potatoes Apple Black Friday nfl schedule
No comments:
Post a Comment