How the Giraffe Got Its Looooong Neck

From New Scientist ("Giraffes got their long necks thanks to a few dozen gene changes"):

Tweaking a few dozen key genes that regulate development gave giraffes their long necks. It's a discovery that points to the subtle complexity behind this striking adaptation.

Biologists now routinely compare genomes of related species to identify the genes that may underpin their differences. Douglas Cavener of Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania, realised that giraffes afforded an un...