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Insights into evolutionary dynamics: Study reveals the evolution of evolvability
A new study by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology (MPI-EB) sheds fresh light on one of the most debated concepts in biology: evolvability. The work provides the first experimental evidence showing how natural selection can shape genetic systems to enhance future capacity for evolution, challenging traditional perspectives on evolutionary processes.
The inner ear of Neanderthals reveals clues about their enigmatic origin
New research on the inner ear morphology of Neanderthals and their ancestors challenges the widely accepted theory that Neanderthals originated after an evolutionary event that implied the loss of part of their genetic diversity. The findings, based on fossil samples from Atapuerca (Spain) and Krapina (Croatia), as well as from various European and Western Asian sites have been published in Nature Communications.
Shallow-water mussels show rapid adaptation to deep-sea life in 10 days
Researchers from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) and the Institute of Oceanology, both under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have discovered new insights into how marine organisms adapt to extreme deep-sea environments.
Less, but more: A new evolutionary scenario marked by massive gene loss and expansion
Evolution is traditionally associated with a process of increasing complexity and gaining new genes. However, the explosion of the genomic era shows that gene loss and simplification is a much more frequent process in the evolution of species than previously thought, and may favor new biological adaptations that facilitate the survival of living organisms.
Genetic insights reveal plant adaptation to climate change
As climate change accelerates, plants face mounting pressure to adapt to shifting ecosystems and environmental conditions. This challenge is especially urgent for crops—plants resilient to drought and heat are essential to secure food supply in an unpredictable future. Fortunately, plants can adapt remarkably well to diverse environments and climates: Arabidopsis thaliana, for example, thrives in regions as climatically distinct as Sweden and Italy.
Fly larva with a fake termite face can infiltrate termite mounds and socialize
Nature is full of impostors, and many of them are found in the insect world. Certain species, such as the bee fly or the ant spider, are experts at misdirection and their ability to confuse predators or prey is on a par with that of John Travolta in Face/Off and Arya Stark in Game of Thrones. However, never before has a blow fly been observed successfully living incognito among termites.
The evolving pigment palette of European skin, eyes and hair as seen through ancient DNA
University of Ferrara researchers in Italy have examined how European skin, eye and hair pigmentation evolved over the past 45,000 years. Findings indicate that lighter pigmentation traits emerged gradually and non-linearly, with dark skin persisting in many populations well into the Copper and Iron Ages. The study used a probabilistic genotype likelihood method to infer pigmentation traits from low-coverage ancient DNA.
Research reveals function of red stigmas in wind-pollinated flowers
Hazelnuts have long been prized as a tasty and nutritious food. Found in forests statewide in Missouri, they are a favorite wild edible for many people. Squirrels and other small mammals feast on the nuts each fall and winter, as do certain birds and white-tailed deer.
China Jurassic fossil discovery sheds light on bird origin
A research team led by Professor Wang Min from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has discovered two bird fossils in Jurassic-era rocks from Fujian Province in southeast China.
Simulation shows wolves had time to self-domesticate and evolve into dogs
A team of mathematicians and statisticians from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, the University of Tennessee and Valparaiso University, all in the U.S., has found new evidence that wolves had ample time to self-domesticate and evolve into modern dogs. In their study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group developed a computer simulation showing the evolution process.
Birds have developed complex brains independently from mammals, studies reveal
Two studies published in the latest issue of Science have revealed that birds, reptiles, and mammals have developed complex brain circuits independently, despite sharing a common ancestor. These findings challenge the traditional view of brain evolution and demonstrate that, while comparable brain functions exist among these groups, embryonic formation mechanisms and cell types have followed divergent evolutionary trajectories.
Deep learning provides new view on 300 million years of brain evolution
In a new study published in Science, a Belgian research team explores how genetic switches controlling gene activity define brain cell types across species. They trained deep learning models on human, mouse, and chicken brain data and found that while some cell types are highly conserved between birds and mammals after millions of years of evolution, others have evolved differently.
Boosting evolution: How humans unintentionally altered the skulls of pigs
Short snouts and a flat profile—within a span of 100 years, humans have significantly changed the shape of the skulls of German domestic pigs. According to a team from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), this is likely down to new breeding practices introduced at the beginning of the 20th century.
A single protein may have helped shape the emergence of spoken language
The origins of human language remain mysterious. Are we the only animals truly capable of complex speech? Are Homo sapiens the only hominids who could give detailed directions to a far-off freshwater source or describe the nuanced purples and reds of a dramatic sunset?
Starfish skeletons provide key insights into bone evolution
Researchers at the Biomimetics-Innovation-Center, Hochschule Bremen—City University of Applied Sciences, have made pioneering discoveries about how mechanical stress shapes the ultrastructure of starfish skeletons. Published in Acta Biomaterialia, their study delivers the first in-depth analysis of how starfish skeletons respond to varying stress conditions, revealing new insights into the evolutionary mechanisms that drive skeletal adaptation.
Analysis reveals global patterns of trait matching in bird-plant networks
In 1862, Charles Darwin predicted the existence of a moth with a long tongue based on a comet orchid's nectar spurs. This was confirmed in 1903 with the discovery of a long-tongued hawkmoth, illustrating morphological trait matching in nature.
Bacteria evolved to help neighboring cells after death, new research reveals
Darwin's theory of natural selection provides an explanation for why organisms develop traits that help them survive and reproduce. Because of this, death is often seen as a failure rather than a process shaped by evolution.
How dinosaur extinctions created an environment that contributed to our fruit-eating primate ancestors
The extinction of the largest dinosaurs to walk the Earth may have played a critical role in creating an environment that helped fruits evolve, thereby indirectly shaping the evolution of our own fruit-eating ancestors, according to new research.
Why did life evolve to be so colorful? Research is starting to give us some answers
Picture a primordial Earth: a world of muted browns, grays and greens. Fast forward to today, and Earth teems with a kaleidoscope of colors. From the stunning feathers of male peacocks to the vivid blooms of flowers, the story of how Earth became colorful is one of evolution. But how and why did this explosion of color happen? Recent research is giving us clues into this part of Earth's narrative.
Sex as a formality: Study shows male stick insects have lost their reproductive function
While most animals reproduce sexually, some species rely solely on females for parthenogenetic reproduction. Even in these species, rare males occasionally appear. Whether these males retain reproductive functions is a key question in understanding the evolution of reproductive strategies.
Decoding the giant Y of Silene latifolia: Evolutionary insights into an unusually large sex chromosome
A high-quality genome assembly of Silene latifolia was generated by researchers at CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and collaborating institutions. The team identified extensive recombination suppression, large-scale repeat accumulation, and gene loss on the Y chromosome, providing insights into the evolution of this unusually large sex chromosome.
Are dogs really bred for function? New study challenges the assumptions about certain breeds
Since their domestication millennia ago, dogs have been man's best friend, and aside from friendship, centuries of selective breeding have tailored them for tasks like herding, hunting and guarding—or so we thought.
We studied more than 500 giraffe skulls from all over Africa, and confirmed there are 4 distinct species
Giraffes are among the world's most recognizable animals. With their elongated necks and long legs, their gracious movements and unique coat patterns, they have inspired people's imaginations for centuries.
Ragweed's evolutionary edge: Study reveals supergenes behind invasive plant's rapid global invasion
Monash researchers have made a breakthrough discovery about the invasion success of plants, with the revelation that large-scale genetic changes are the common ragweed's secret to rapidly adapting to new environments.
Ear muscle we thought humans didn't use—except for wiggling our ears—activates during focused listening
If you can wiggle your ears, you can use muscles that helped our distant ancestors listen closely. These auricular muscles helped change the shape of the pinna, or the shell of the ear, funneling sound to the eardrums.
Crucial plant protein traced back to over 600 millions years ago, predating the first plant
Wageningen researchers have discovered that a vital plant protein originated more than 600 million years ago, long before the first plants existed. They traced its origins back to an evolutionary event in a distant unicellular ancestor, during which genetic material was reshuffled. This process gave rise to the Auxin Response Factor (ARF), a protein that continues to play a key role in the growth and development of plants and trees today. The researchers published their findings in Nature Communications.
Evidence suggests Neanderthal blood protein may be part of reason for their demise
A team of paleoanthropologists and geneticists from Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, EFS, ADES has found evidence of what may have been a contributing factor to the decline of Neanderthals. In their paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, the group describes how they conducted genetic sequencing of three hominid gene populations to learn more about their red blood cell antigens and what they learned by doing so.