Why in the News?
A study published in Nature (Nov 2025) found that grey seal milk contains 332 different oligosaccharides—33% more than human breast milk, previously considered the most complex.
Key FindingsHighest Oligosaccharide Diversity
Functions of Oligosaccharides
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Why Grey Seal Milk is So Complex?
- Grey seals:
- Live in harsh, high-risk environments.
- Mothers fast for ~18 days while feeding pups.
- Pups grow extremely rapidly during this period.
- Complex sugars help pups survive extreme conditions and develop strong immunity quickly.
Study Details
- Conducted by the University of Gothenburg (Sweden).
- Samples collected from Atlantic grey seals on a small Scottish island.
- Analytical method used: Deep mass spectrometry.
- A very advanced method of mass spectrometry that can detect hundreds to thousands of molecules in a sample with very high accuracy.
| Consider the following:
1. Bats 2. Bears 3. Rodents The phenomenon of hibernation can be observed in which of the above kinds of animals? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 only (d) Hibernation cannot be observed in any of the above This PYQ is chosen because it directly addresses the peculiar biological feature (hibernation) that allows mammals to survive challenging environmental conditions, which conceptually mirrors the adaptive features of the grey seal |
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