Scientists have found out why some rabbits walk on their front legs, and do not jump

How often do you see a rabbit standing up on its front legs and continuing to walk in this position? Scientists have found out what is the reason for such a strange behavior of some rabbits.

There is a unique breed of rabbits sauteur d'Alfort, which has changes in the RORB gene, which performs one of the key functions in the structure of the nervous system of the spinal cord.

That is why rabbits of the sauteur d'Alfort breed do not have the ability to jump. Their brains do not send a jump signal to their hind legs, while their forelegs are fully functioning. As a result, it is easier for animals of this species to move on their forelimbs than to jump on their hind legs.

A joint study of this breed by specialists from Sweden and Portugal revealed changes in the RORB gene. By crossing different types of rabbits with the sauteur d'Alfort breed, experts examined the genomes of 52 animals. Rabbits that could not jump were given this mutation from the parent.

In the future, these studies can make a significant contribution to the study of other diseases of the central nervous system of vertebrates.