LONDON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- A high metabolism and an impressive swimming pace are two reasons why tuna and great white sharks are such effective predators. New research suggests the two super-predator traits shared by the fish are derived from a similar set of genes.
Genomic analysis conducted by scientists at Imperial College London revealed a set of metabolic genes preferentially passed down among both tuna species and the lamnid group of sharks. The researchers also identified an identical metabolic gene in both fish groups linked with the ability to generate intense bursts of energy.