Utsuka and Jigyasa spotted a snake charmer on the streets. Utsuka was mesmerized by its dance. But they both realized that the dancing snake had no legs or arms. That made them wonder: “Why snakes don’t have limbs?”

They learn about the story of the past snakes and how they might have lost limbs. They also discuss how present-day scientists study snake evolution.

In the interview segment, they talk with Dr. Megha Kumar, a scientist from CCMB who studies early forms of animals – embryos. Dr. Kumar talks about how researchers study snakes and other animals to answer questions about how their bodies develop. Dr. Kumar also shares her journey to becoming a scientist.

References

1. https://www.livescience.com/56573-mutation-caused-snakes-to-lose-legs.html#:~:text=Adult%20snakes%20don't%20have,mutations%20that%20prevented%20limb%20development.
2. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/a-fossil-snake-with-four-legs
3. Leal F, Cohn MJ. Loss and Re-emergence of Legs in Snakes by Modular Evolution of Sonic hedgehog and HOXD Enhancers. Curr Biol. 2016 Nov 7;26(21):2966-2973. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.09.020. Epub 2016 Oct 20. PMID: 27773569.