Why Birds Sing in Spring - Details

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ID:	35112
Title:	Why Birds Sing in Spring - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7305469.stm
Description:	When birds are exposed to light for longer periods of time, hormonal changes are triggered that lead them to sing. Researchers scanned 28,000 genes from the Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica, and discovered that genes in cells on the surface of the brain are switched on when the birds receive more light. The cells then release a thyroid-stimulating hormone that indirectly stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete other hormones called gonadotropins. This, in turn, causes the birds’ testes to grow, and the quail then begin to sing to attract potential mating partners.
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Date Added:	March 24, 2008 05:00:00 AM
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