About Daniel Wieczorek Expertise I would be happy to help answerer your questions on the subjects of oceanography, environmental science, environmental impact (both human and natural), marine chemistry, marine biology, ecology, and general science, biology and chemistry questions. Although I will not do anyones homework for them I can perhaps give a nudge in the correct direction when stuck. Please include some of your background when asking, this will help me to form an answer that best fits your needs.
Experience I work in the environmental research field, marine and oceanography. I focus mainly on human impacts (chemical, and ecological) on marine species and what can be done to reverse the negative impacts.
Publications I am a published author of research papers in marine science and oceanography journals.
Education/Credentials I have a bachelors degree in marine science, and my graduate work is in aquatic toxicology.
Expert: Daniel Wieczorek Date: 9/26/2007 Subject: Multiple backbones in a sardine
Question Hello Daniel,
Sorry i was not clear enough with my question. in response to your query...
"Because When you say spine do you me like an internal back bone type spine or like a spike externally?"
....when i say spine i mean the internal back bone type spine. in fact on both sides of the fish there is a ridged line made of bone/cartiledge from head to tail, perpendicularly crossed with tiny bones....resembling a train track, but with only 1 main 'artery'.
In fact it looks like the normal internal backbone except the smaller bones which run from side to side are a lot shorter than the internal main spine.
i can send pictures if it will help.
thnx again,
martin
Answer I understand now, this is very interesting. When things like this happen its not usually a mutation which is genetic, but a malformation. A malformation like this is usually due to something happening in the embryonic (planktonic in this case) stage of the animals development, like cells sticking when they are dividing causing double development of that area. For something like this that is symmetrical I would estimate that it happened very early in development (just a few cells).
