New Genetics Study Reveals How Emperor and Adelie Penguins Survive the Harsh Antarctic

Scientists are learning a bit more about penguins, thanks to a new study. Two penguin genomes have been sequenced and analyzed for the first time, revealing how these birds have been able to adapt to the cold and hostile Antarctic environment.

Antarctic penguins are able to withstand extremely low temperatures, high winds and profound changes in daylight. In fact, they've developed complicated biological systems to regulate temperature and store energy for long-term fasting. While most studies focus on the physiological and behavioral aspects of these birds, this latest study analyzed the DNA of two different penguin species.

The scientists used the historical genetic record within the DNA across bird species in order to learn a bit more about penguins. More specifically, they found that penguins first appeared about 60 million years ago. Then, the Adelie penguin population increased rapidly about 150,000 years ago once the climate became warming, but declined again about 60,000 years ago during a cold and dry glacial period. The emperor penguin population, in contrast, remained stable-which suggests that they were better adapted to glacial conditions.

"These different patterns in historical population change also suggest that future climate change may have impacts on the two penguin species," said Cai Li, the team leader of the new study, in a news release. "For example, the fact that emperor penguins didn't experience the same population boom as Adelie penguins in warm climates means that they could suffer more from global warming, and this needs to be considered in conservation efforts in Antarctica."

In addition to these findings, the researchers also discovered expanded genes that allow the penguins to have short, stiff, densely packed feathers to minimize heat loss. They also found a gene responsible for penguins' thick skin and two different adaptations for lipid metabolism in the different penguins.

"Although Adelie and Emperor penguins both breed on the Antarctic continent, they do so in very different ways," said David Lambert, one of the researchers. "By sequencing the genomes of two penguin species we have been able to compare many of the genes that are responsible for these different abilities to do the same thing-namely to survive and breed in Antarctica. This study is particularly important because it now provides us with the opportunity to conduct large scale evolutionary studies of both species."

The findings are published in several papers in the journal Science.

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