Scientists Discover How Animals Develop Patches

Scientists have solved what shall henceforth be known as the piebald mystery: by discovering the origins of the broad white patches that can adorn the belly and head fur of cats, dogs and farm animals.  The distinctive patterns were known to be caused by a mutated gene, but how the faulty DNA produced the signature white bellies and other splashes of light on animals’ coats was far from clear.

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World Day for Farmed Animals Seeks To Give People Pause

Nobody’s going to ask you to stop eating turkey sandwiches, hamburgers or pork chops. That’s the sort of request that tends to irk devoted carnivores—i.e., the vast majority of humans who, worldwide, will consume upwards of 65 billion farm animals this year.  Not even the most passionate vegan organizer behind World Day for Farmed Animals (Oct. 2) is expecting legions of meat-eaters to dramatically change their diets overnight, no matter how many distressing facts they offer up on their website (dayforanimals.org) or on placards carried by supporters at the many rallies planned for Saturday.

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Seeing Humanity In Farm Animals

You can tell a lot about a person from their expressions. Perplexed eyebrows, pursed lips.  Animals are no different.  From raised noses to lowered heads, outward displays of emotion are not exclusive to humans. But perhaps that isn't the message inked in these portraits taken by Ronan Yver.  Farm animals have their own stories. Their lives consist of more than rolling in the mud and grazing the fields. The perception of farm life cannot be taken at face value. You have to dig deeper for the truth under the skin.

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