I’m glad the article has not just one, but three different pictures. I hate it when an article talks about a photo and it’s nowhere to be found in the article itself.
this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2025
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"Researchers suspect rare genetic mutations caused the unusual colour, but they don’t know why"
Genetic mutations are random, so there is no reason for the orange colour.
Actually his mum drank too much orange juice when she was pregnant, duh.
It doesn't change anything to the fact genetic mutations are random and there is no specific reason for one or another to occur.
Some mutations are correlated or even linked, and I think some might have specific reasons.
In this case I don't think they meant ‘scientist don't know why these mutations occurred’, so I didn't even understand your comment, it seems
According to Naranjo, genetic mutations can be completely natural. But they can also be triggered by environmental factors, like temperature changes or pollution.
"We actually don't know why that happened," he said.
He's talking about why the mutation happened
I don't see any interest answering this question. Mutations are random, whatever causes it. We already know many causes. From a study of the individual, you cannot identify the cause anyway. Still doesn't make sense to me.
I doubt anybody's trying to answer the question. Sounds like he was just explaining to people that it could have happened for various reasons and we don't really know the specific reason why, and the paper decided to use it as a sound bite.
But they can be triggered for various reasons, including environmental issues, so they'd like to identify that trigger if that's the cause.
If it's environmental, it's not genetic mutations. If it's a genetic mutation, whatever the cause for the mutation (radioactivity, chemical, etc) it's still random and the outcome cannot be predicted. It didn't became orange on purpose.
It's ALL genetic mutation, no matter what the source. You meant that if it isn't environmental, it's spontaneous, just the genetic roulette wheel taking a weird spin, instead of being influenced by some outside force.
There is no such thing like a force skewing genetic mutations in a specific direction. It's a stochastic process. You DNA is hit by an ionizing radiation and a modification ensue which can be anything and this happens randomly. Most of the time dysfunctional cells will be destroyed by the immunity system otherwise if the cells proliferate you got cancer. If it is DNA from reproduction cells, you may get a mutant or a nonviable embryo, etc.
Maybe the shark has been eating like, a lot of carrots?
That color is remarkable!
The biologist's name is Naranjo??
2 bugs in genetic code.
Cool. A mutation.
Doubt this is beneficial in any way to the species though. Seems like it would stand out chilling on the sea floor
They mention in the article that it probably isn't as affected as we would guess due to the muddiness of the water