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Related: About this forumOxygen mystery: How marine mammals hold their breath
By Victoria Gill
Science reporter, BBC News
Scientists say they have solved the mystery of one of the most extreme adaptations in the animal kingdom: how marine mammals store enough oxygen to hold their breath for up to an hour.
The team studied myoglobin, an oxygen-storing protein in mammals' muscles and found that, in whales and seals, it has special "non-stick" properties.
This allowed the animals to pack huge amounts of oxygen into their muscles without "clogging them up".
The findings are published in Science.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22853482
Science reporter, BBC News
Scientists say they have solved the mystery of one of the most extreme adaptations in the animal kingdom: how marine mammals store enough oxygen to hold their breath for up to an hour.
The team studied myoglobin, an oxygen-storing protein in mammals' muscles and found that, in whales and seals, it has special "non-stick" properties.
This allowed the animals to pack huge amounts of oxygen into their muscles without "clogging them up".
The findings are published in Science.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22853482
If I was genetically re-engineering myself this is one of the modifications I'd like...
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Oxygen mystery: How marine mammals hold their breath (Original Post)
hunter
Jun 2013
OP
If I was genetically re-engineering myself this is one of the modifications I'd like...
leftyohiolib
Jun 2013
#2
burrowowl
(17,655 posts)1. Cool!
leftyohiolib
(5,917 posts)2. If I was genetically re-engineering myself this is one of the modifications I'd like...
no, wings with which to fly
hunter
(38,349 posts)3. Diving without scuba equipment is almost like flying.
Besides, most of the earth is covered with water.
leftyohiolib
(5,917 posts)5. but the entire earth is covered in air
Occulus
(20,599 posts)8. True, but the artist's rendering here shows it's a roughly equal amount
krispos42
(49,445 posts)4. Think about how much being able to hold you breath...
...for that long would endear you to your significant other!
Paulie
(8,462 posts)6. I was thinking the opposite
I'll hold my breath until I get my way....
krispos42
(49,445 posts)7. You must give to receive...