Why Don't Birds Need Sunscreen? What is Gadusol

Why don't birds need sunscreen? what is Gadusol Researchers uncover a clue as to how - non mammals stay outdoors without getting burned.

Sunlight is the Earth's primary energy source and is exploited by an array of natural and man-made processes. Photosynthetic plants harness solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into biomass, and solar panels capture light and convert it to electricity. Sunlight is critical to life on Earth, and yet excessive exposure to sunlight can cause serious harm as it contains ultraviolet radiation, which damages the DNA of cells. In humans, this damage can lead to conditions such as cataracts and skin cancer.

In a paper published in eLife, researchers found that birds, along with fish, reptiles, and amphibians, are capable of producing a chemical called gadusol, which shields them against harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Ultraviolet-protective compounds, such as mycosporine-like amino acids and related gadusols produced by some bacteria, fungi, algae, and marine invertebrates, are critical for the survival of reef-building corals and other marine organisms exposed to high-solar irradiance. These compounds have also been found in marine fish

The discovery of the gadusol pathway, in vertebrates provides a platform for understanding its role in these animals, and the possibility of engineering - yeast to efficiently produce a natural sunscreen and antioxidant presents an avenue for its large-scale production for possible use in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

The researchers also checked the genomes of birds, reptiles, and amphibians and found that they contain the same gene, which means that other animals should be able to produce their own sunscreen too. Mammals, on the other hand, lost the gene millions of years ago, and it’s still unclear why.

In the future, engineering a yeast population to produce large quantities of the natural sunscreen could lead to large-scale production of the UV-protective compound so it can be used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

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Read More Here:
http://elifesciences.org/content/4/e05919/article-data

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