Curiosity Weekly cover image

A Lost Roman Sauce, Earlier Puberty, Elephants Getting Tusks Back

Curiosity Weekly

00:00

The Brain Receptor That Controls Growth and Sexual Development

The receptor is called m c three r and it exists because evolution can't predict the future. The newly discovered receptor appears to be the mechanism the body uses to determine if it's safe to hit the gas on physical growth and sexual development. Researchers studied these receptors in the lab using mice. They also found 812 women with just one of the normal two functioning copies of the gean that codes for m c three re were shorter and started puberty nearly five months later than their peers. This research will soon result in genetic tests for mutations affecting the m c three argine.

Play episode from 03:30
Transcript

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app