Scientists have sequenced the genome of the giraffe and its closest relative, the okapi, to reveal the genetic secrets of this iconic animal, and also, to shed light about how this creature became the tallest land animal in the world with its magnificent long neck.

According to lead author of the study, Douglas Cavener from Penn State University, since the 1800s, the giraffe's unique evolution involving its structure and height that are required for high speed sprinting even powerful cardiovascular systems, has been an enigma.

Like Us on Facebook

In this new study, researchers carried out a comparison of the giraffe's and okapi's genetic sequences with more than 40 mammals, from humans to camels.

Cavener says that the okapi's genome sequences are very much similar with the giraffe where they both possessed an ancestor that diverged some 12 million years ago. Even if they are the closest relatives of each other, the okapi appears more similar to a zebra, lacking the giraffe's monumental height and powerful cardiovascular systems.

Researchers identified 70 of these genes showing signs of these unique adaptations in the giraffe, where more than half of them are genes that help in regulating skeletal growth along with maintaining cardiovascular systems, playing a very crucial role in these unique features of the giraffe.

Cavener explains that the giraffe's cervical vertebrae and leg bones have evolved to be greatly extended where at least two genes are at work, to specify which bone to grow more and another to stimulate this extended growth, as the team successfully identified these two genes revealing the giraffe's evolutionary adaptations.

The team believes that these new findings can raise more awareness about how unique the giraffe species is as the majestic creature has been facing significant population declines in the past years. This new study is published in the journal Nature Communications. 

Tagsgiraffes, long necks giraffes, Genetics, evolution, Biology, okapi