Uncover the Mystery of Penn’s Black Squirrels
Have you ever spotted a mysterious black squirrel on Penn’s campus? Sarah Tomke from the Vet’s Wildlife Futures Program explains the genetic mutation behind them.
A striking sight on the University of Pennsylvania’s College Green has sparked curiosity among visitors and students alike—the presence of jet-black squirrels scampering across the grounds. While these creatures may appear exotic or unusual, their dark coloration is actually the result of fascinating genetic science.
The science behind black squirrels
According to Sarah Tomke from Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine’s Wildlife Futures Program, these ebony-colored squirrels aren’t a separate species but rather eastern gray squirrels with a genetic variation. The dark coloring occurs due to a mutation in the melanin receptor protein, which controls pigmentation in the animals.
This genetic mutation affects how melanin, the pigment responsible for fur color, is produced and distributed throughout the squirrel’s coat. The result is the striking black appearance that makes these campus residents stand out from their gray counterparts.
A unique campus feature
The black squirrels have become a distinctive part of Penn’s College Green ecosystem, adding to the campus’s character while providing an interesting example of genetic variation in urban wildlife. Their presence offers students and faculty a real-world demonstration of how genetic mutations can manifest in visible traits within animal populations.
Read More Here
Read More Pennsylvania News
This article may have been created with the assistance of AI.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.
