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How evolution has optimized the magnetic sensor in birds - EurekAlert
The magnetic sense of migratory birds is probably based on the protein cryptochrome 4, and a genetic study has now provided further support for this theory. A team of researchers from Germany compared the genomes of several hundred bird species and found that the gene sequence for cryptochrome 4 has changed considerably during evolution. This suggests that cryptochrome 4 was selected to adapt to different environmental conditions. A possible explanation is that the protein acts as a sensor protein. The study was published in the journal Proceedings B of the Royal Society.
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