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 21 seed notching genes DHJanzen100543.jpg high resolution
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| Liomys mice reared from birth in the laboratory and never having seen a large hard seed notch Enterolobium seeds (top left) and other species of hard seeds (Pithecellobium saman, lower left; Hymenaea courbaril, middle right). They even notch plastic buttons and nickles. In short, they are genetically programmed to notch hard large (and presumable dormant) seeds and leave them on the moist soil of their burrows. If in a cage with a large dry area and a small moist area, the mouse puts the notched seed in the small moist area. They are literally bean sprouters, probably having known this trick far longer than have humans. | ||
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