Click Link Bellow please.
Fainting Goats video clip.
In the case of goats, a certain genotype causes the goat to appear to faint when excited. This is considered a genetic disease called Myotonic congenita. When the goat is excited or frightened the goat has an involuntary response causing the muscles throughout the body to contract. When the goats are young they often fall over, appear to have fainted.
Most experts agree that first knowledge of this breed of goat appeared in the 1800's. This genetic abnormality would appear to a very negative condition for a breed to have. Many people would think a genetic problem as severe as this would severely impede on the goats ability to survive.
This unique condition has lead to interest by humans as keeping myotonic goats as pets. Also, some argue that myotonic goats help protect herds of sheep and goats. A predator hunting a herd a sheep often causes myotonic goats to "faint." Predators often investigate the "fainted" goats allowing the rest of the herd to escape. Oddly enough, reports say that more often than not predators leave "fainted" goats alone. It is surprising how a seemingly advantageous genetic disease can be beneficial to the organism.
Myotonic conditions do occur in other species, including humans. It is a genetic condition governed by CLCN1 gene in goats.
This is too funny. I swear there was a movie that had one of these goats in it i know i saw this somewhere else though. I know that it was said humans can have this as well is it the same thing as jus fainting or is it different from that because when these goats fall they are tense as when humans faint their bodies go limp.
ReplyDeleteWhich film is that?
ReplyDeleteI think it was a show you ever see "wild boys" i think one episode i was watching they went to a place that had these goats. That was the first time i was exposed to this disorder. Although they are crazy they actually can be informative on different wildlife and show different things an audience might not be exposed to on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting. As stated in your article goats with the Myotonic congenita disease could be beneficial for the entire herd. Perhaps if farmers have one goat with the CLCN1 gene, their live stock would be less susceptible to predators.
ReplyDelete