Frog genetic defects

Frogs are amphibians, and live on both land and water. Some genetic defects that frogs acquire include extra limbs or mishaped legs. The first frogs with these genetic defects were found in August 1995 in south and central Minnesota. Herpetologists believed that these were not inherited defects, and were due to something that affected the frog in their early lives that caused mutation, sometime when they were eggs or when they were tadpoles.
Ribeiroia ondatrae
Ribeiroia ondatrae is a flatworm parasite that has contributed to recent increases in amphibian limb malformations, particularly missing, malformed, and extra hind legs. The exact mechanism of deformation has not been determined but it has been theorized that deformation results from mechanical disruption of the cells involved in limb bud formation during the amphibian larval stage. These parasites have migrated to different locations according to the findings of Pieter Johnson, an ecologist at the University of Colorado. He and his collugues gathered imformation about these mutated frogs and the Ribeiroia ondatrae. The Ribeiroia ondatrae gives the frog its defect when it’s in the tadpole stage.
Environmental causes of mutation
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In the past several decades, decline in amphibian populations has been occurring all over the world, for unexplained reasons which are thought to be varied but of which pesticides may be a part. There is evidence of chemical pollutants causing frog developmental deformities (extra limbs, or malformed eyes). In 1996 herpetologists discovered other reasons for these mutations were due to chemical pollution. They also discovered that frogs and other amphibians were sensitive to these chemical pollutants and pesticides were because they lived both on both land and water, making them sensitive to water and land pollution. Now herpetologists believe that increased UV radiation is affecting the frogs’ eggs, which float on the surface of the water absorbing the UV rays.
Frogs usually mutate because of environmental factors. Herpetologists have also discovered that frogs and other amphibians breathe through their skin, and pollution can build up in their bodies. Some herpetologists think that toxic metals and pesticides were building up in the frogs’ bodies, causing their second generation have defects in them.
Prevention
Lessening the use of pesticides may prevent frog mutation and genetic defects, because they harm frog eggs and tadpoles. Decreasing greenhouse gas emissions may be beneficial, because ozone depletion allows more UV rays to reach the Earth, which is believed to negatively affect frog spawn.

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