Analysis - Around the world, natural history museums hold a treasure trove of knowledge about Earth's animals. But much of the precious information is sealed off to genetic scientists because formalin, the chemical often used to preserve specimens, damages DNA and makes sequences hard to recover.
Around the world, natural history museums hold a treasure trove of knowledge about Earth's animals. But much of the precious information is sealed off to genetic scientists becausemean that biologists can study the genetic code of old museum specimens, which include extremely rare or even recently extinct species. Weto study a snake from the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe that was run over in 1982, and discovered it was a new species. Our research was recently published in PLOS One.
Based on their genetic divergence from the other rinkhals, we estimate that the snakes in Zimbabwe diverged from their southern relatives 7-14 million years ago. Counting a snake's scales can help identify what species it is. Subtle differences in scale counts, revealed by our analysis of other specimens, provided enough evidence to classify the Zimbabwe rinkhals as a new species, Hemachatus nyangensis, the Nyanga rinkhals.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Zimbabwe: Rights Groups Critical of Zimbabwe Media Laws, Journalists' ArrestsTwo rights groups - Amnesty International and the Media Institute of Southern Africa - have released reports saying Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has failed to break with the past and isn't keeping his promise to allow freedom of the press and access to information. The government has a different opinion.
Read more »
Zimbabwe Aims to Shake Off Election Criticism With New Debt DealZimbabwe's president is preparing to restart talks on $14bn of unpaid debt as deep divisions persist over disputed elections in the southern African country.
Read more »
SA is not the same as Zimbabwe — but we must keep guarding our electionsBecause of our shared history and historical links, developments in Zimbabwe have often sparked polarising debates in South Africa. The public support for Zanu PF by ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula may lead to questions about his commitment to democracy. And after a week of tumult in Zimbabwe, there are important lessons for SA ahead of our elections next year.
Read more »
Zimbabwe: 100 Most Influential Young Zimbabweans NamedSolitaire Communications has announced its annual list of 100 most influential young Zimbabweans, featuring young leaders in politics, business and arts.
Read more »
Zimbabwe: Shoko Festival Lives Up to BillingIt was three days of fun, thought provoking discussions, poetry, theatre, comedy and music as the annual Shoko Festival successfully held events across Harare and Chitungwiza last week.
Read more »
Zimbabwe to Have Fresh, Free and Fair Elections Despite Mnangagwa's ResistanceOPPOSITION Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) has challenged the ruling Zanu PF and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) that whether they like it or not, Zimbabwe will soon have fresh, free and fair elections.
Read more »