Scientists attempt to clone Ice Age lion cubs

Scientists are attempting to clone extinct Ice Age lion cubs by finding DNA in the remains of the creatures.

The two cubs were found in Russia’s Sakha Republic last August in a near-perfect state, they are so well preserved that their whiskers are still bristling, thanks to the deep-freeze conditions where they lay. Researchers hope to find living tissues containing DNA in the remains, which will allow them to recreate the now extinct Ice Age cave lion.

The project is a joint venture by Russian and South Korean scientists at the Joint Foundation of Molecular Palaeontology at North East Russia University in the city of Yakutsk.

Rare albino turtle

Animal care volunteers in Australia discovered a rare albino turtle hatchling making its way out of a nest.

The baby turtle, who staff at Coolum District Coast Care Group named Alby, is a green turtle only in name as its skin is actually white with pink accents, as seen in photos shared to Facebook.

Unfortunately, Coolum District Coast Care Group President Linda Warneminde said that Alby’s rare colouring may hurt its already low survival rate.

“In normal hatchlings there’s one in 1,000 that reaches maturity,” she told. Green turtles face threats from debris and fisherman in addition to natural predators that are more likely to target Alby due to its light colouring according to Threatened Species Unit chief scientist, Dr Col Limpus.

Hunchbacked dog gets a new home

Quasimodo with his own Facebook page has reached 95,971 fans who want to hear updates about him. Well kids, the dog has a shorter spine than most normal dogs which makes him a hunchback and he now lives in his new home with Secondhand Hounds.

Foster mum Rachel Mairose said, “He is goofy and he loves all the dogs.”

He is certainly a unique dog, with only 15 believed to have his condition worldwide. Authorities spotted him as a stray in Kentucky, and took five days to catch him with food to lure him in. The vets found skin had started to grow around his collar which was too tight, and he could only eat small amounts of food at a time because of the pressure on his back.

Rare four-clawed lobster found

A Portland seafood wholesaler has acquired a lobster that will never see the dinner table despite having double the usual amount of claw meat.

Ready Seafood Co. bought the lobster, which has four fully formed claws, from a Canadian dealer. The critter has three claws on one arm and one on the other. Lobsters normally have two claws — one for pinching and one for crushing.

Ready Seafood’s in-house marine biologist Curt Brown said he’s never seen a four-clawed lobster in more than a decade in the business. He says a genetic mutation most likely caused the extra claws.

The crustacean will be handed over to the state Department of Marine Resources, Brown said. He said he’ll suggest the agency try to breed it in captivity.

Genetic defects sometimes cause lobsters to have different coloration than their typical brownish hue. Blue lobsters are about a one-in-two million occurrence, and other colours are much rarer. It’s difficult to say exactly how uncommon it is to find a four-clawed lobster.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 23rd, 2015