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Article: In Sweden, the beavers are all cousins. (genetic variation research on beavers) (Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- October 9, 1993
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1993 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Although biologists have long thought that a species needs genetic variation in order to thrive (SN: 9/25/93, p.200), beavers are proving this assumption wrong. Supposedly, variation ensures that individuals can adapt to varying living conditions. Also, even if one individual's immune system can't fend off a particular infection, another individual's slightly different system can. But Castor fiber seems to do just fine without this variation, says Hans Ellegren from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala.
Hunters killed off Sweden's beavers during the 1800s. Then, during the 1920s and 1930s, conservationists reintroduced a small number of ...