VANCOUVER – Scientists have decoded the DNA of the painted turtle and hope that unraveling the mystery of the reptiles may lead to medical breakthroughs for humans.
Painted turtles are the most abundant turtle in North America, with a northernmost range from Ontario west to British Columbia, where they are listed as endangered on the Pacific Coast.
The shelled reptile, named for the bright yellow stripes that adorn its body, can freeze solid and return to life when thawed.
Brad Shaffer of UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and one of the lead researchers says the turtle can also hold its breath for up to four days at room temperature without suffering oxygen deprivation.
Shaffer and his colleagues hope solving the DNA puzzle may one day lead to innovations in treating hypothermia, heart attacks or strokes.
The DNA information is being shared with 59 scientists around the world, including three researchers at UBC, Carlton and the University of Toronto who will continue the study.
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