- Category
- Science
- Published
- Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 7:15 AM
- Publisher
-
ScienceDaily
How does this news make you feel?
Hidden genetic diversity helped inbred brown tree snakes conquer guam
Quick Summary
A notorious snake invasion that devastated Guam’s native birds may have succeeded because the reptiles carried hidden genetic advantages. Using advanced long-read DNA sequencing, researchers uncovered more than 19,000 large genetic differences in brown tree snakes, many concentrated in genes tied to immunity and smell. This overlooked diversity may have helped a population founded by only a few snakes survive inbreeding, adapt to a new environment, and multiply to extraordinary densities.
Comments (0)
Join the conversation. Comments are rate-limited, secured, and GDPR-compliant.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!