Researchers discovered a new simple mechanism of tooth class transformation in vertebrate lizards, affecting teeth size and attachment type. The EDA gene mutation led to significant changes in dental features, shedding light on tooth development in non-mammalian lineages.
A team of researchers at Georgia State University has created a lightning-fast computer software that can process over 200,000 novel virus genomes in under two hours. The software provides valuable information for countries making early decisions about lockdowns, quarantines, and testing during infectious disease outbreaks.
A team of researchers has reconstructed the evolutionary history of dragonflies and damselflies, determining when they first emerged around 200 million years ago. The study provides the most comprehensive divergence time estimates for Odonata to date.
Research by Washington University in St. Louis explores the collision of island and mainland adaptive radiations in neotropical anoles, finding that island species can diversify greatly on the mainland. Contrary to traditional thinking, islands are not evolutionary dead ends but rather cauldrons of innovation and diversification.
Researchers discover that gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is widely conserved among vertebrates, but the NMB/bombesin system has diversified in some lineages. GRP has evolved independently from a single ancestral homologue and plays a role in regulating energy intake and expenditure in both amphibians and mammals.
Scientists investigate how Jurassic belemnites adapted to environmental changes caused by warming, finding differences between species and developmental stages. The study highlights the importance of considering life history and phylogeny when analyzing the impact of climate stress on marine organisms.
A new study in Genome Biology and Evolution reveals extensive gene flow among butterfly lineages, resulting in a network of related species rather than a simple tree. This challenges traditional models of evolution and highlights the importance of adaptive introgression in shaping species diversity.
Researchers have developed a QR code-based digitization workflow to streamline specimen collection, reduce errors, and make data more accessible. The workflow uses unique object identifiers, citizen science platforms, and QR codes to automate data entry and analysis, allowing for the creation of large-scale phylogenetic studies.
Researchers analyzed DNA from 591 turtles to uncover factors shaping their diversity, finding species diversified in response to historical climate shifts. The study suggests that habitats exposed along continental margins were critical for turtle speciation and remain key to their persistence.
An international team of scientists has produced the first complete, species-level phylogeny of a major group of tropical birds known as suboscine passerines. The study used genetic markers scattered across the entire genome to describe the evolutionary history and create a framework for further questions about mechanisms that drive sp...
Researchers studied Nocticola sp. cockroaches to better understand their evolutionary history, shedding light on a 'lost' family of insects that may be the missing link in the evolution of insects from prehistoric times to the present day.
The genus Iris, comprising over 300 species, has a poor fossil record, but researchers created a phylogeny to study evolutionary divergence. They found the last common ancestor of irises probably had purple flowers with a crest and spot on falls, pollinated by insects for nectar.
A new model explains why sleep times decrease as brains get bigger, identifying a sharp transition at around 2.4 years of age in humans where primary purpose of sleep shifts from reorganization to repair. The research ties phylogeny and ontogeny into a unified framework.
A complete time-calibrated phylogeny for European butterflies has been published, providing a tool for evolutionary and ecological research. The study offers insights into the ancestral relationships and history of divergence for all 496 species.
Researchers discovered a Jurassic stick insect that employed mimicry by resembling ferns to protect itself from predators. The discovery reveals the earliest known specializations for mimicry and defense in stick insects, dating back 165 million years. This finding sheds light on the evolution of these remarkable insects.
A massive study of over 3,000 freshwater mussels reveals seven new mussel-associated leech species, some of which are obligate inhabitants of the mantle cavity. The association evolved over millions of years and is crucial to understanding biological threats facing imperiled animal groups like freshwater mussels.
Researchers have identified the oldest known ortholog of the ion channel defective in cystic fibrosis, found in ancient sea lampreys approximately 450 million years ago. The protein diverges significantly from its human counterpart and has unique functional properties, suggesting a distinct evolutionary history.
Researchers propose a cascade of chemical reactions to produce RNA's four genetic building blocks, creating a pivotal step in chemical evolution. The process requires simple precursor molecules and can occur under homogeneous environmental conditions.
Research reveals HIV-1B originated in America, then developed into a unique Indonesian strain after introduction in the late 1980s. The study found multiple introductions of the virus to Indonesia via Thailand, Europe, and America throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
A new beaked whale species, Berardius minimus, has been discovered and confirmed in the waters off Hokkaido. The species exhibits distinct physical characteristics, including a smaller body size, shorter beak, and darker color compared to known species.
A recent study from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research resolves the relationships among major lineages in the Brassicaceae family. The study uses nuclear genes to infer the relationships of 79 species, representing 50 of the 52 currently recognized main lineages.
A novel machine-learning model uses artificial neural networks to analyze protein sequence data, providing detailed information on protein structure, function and evolutionary features. The model can be used to design new proteins with desired functions and predict the future sequence evolution of proteins in living organisms.
Researchers introduce a new approach to analyzing genome content in animals, resolving long-standing debates about the origin and development of tissues and organ systems. The method yields consistent results with classical views of animal phylogeny, shedding light on early evolutionary history.
Researchers studied genome sequences of various species to understand the genetic factors behind limb loss in snakes. By analyzing gene regulatory elements, they found that only one gene was lost in snakes, but not its associated regulatory element, suggesting a more complex process.
A new fossil discovery reveals defining characteristics of hagfish appeared before the Cretaceous period, resolving a longstanding debate on their evolutionary position. The study suggests that hagfish and lampreys form a distinct clade, implying that living jawless vertebrates may not be as primitive as initially thought.
A new study by Cornell University researchers found that orchards surrounded by natural habitats draw a broader selection of bee species, leading to improved apple production. This is because bees from different species exhibit unique behaviors when pollinating flowers, affecting fruit development and quality.
A decade-long analysis of bee activity in New York apple orchards reveals decreased pollination services with agricultural activity; Phylogenetic diversity is a better gauge of pollinator services than standard approaches.
A comprehensive study of the blind cavefish's vertebrate-like pelvic girdle and phylogeny may provide insights into the evolution of appendages, pelvis, and vertebral column needed for terrestrial life. Researchers will examine the morphological, genomic, and mechanical qualities that enable fish to walk on land.
Researchers are conducting a comprehensive study of the walking cavefish to better understand the 'fin-to-limb' transition that enabled the first vertebrates to walk on land. The project aims to identify the genomic, morphological and mechanical qualities that enable fish to walk on land.
A study on Changchunsaurus parvus reveals unique features in its teeth, including wavy enamel and a method of tooth replacement that allowed for continuous shearing surface formation. These findings suggest early adaptations for herbivory in this small herbivorous dinosaur.
Chinese fossils contain at least 28 insect families and diverse beetles, suggesting a radiation of Holometabola during the Middle Triassic. The discovery provides new insights into the early evolution of freshwater ecosystems.
Researchers have identified the geographical origins and global spread of HBV genotypes D and A, which originated in the Middle East and North Africa. The study reveals differences in their dissemination patterns, influenced by prehistoric and recent human migrations.
A decade-long genetic analysis of grasshopper relationships reveals the origin of the broadest lineage of grasshoppers in South America. The study's findings challenge previous assumptions and suggest major shifts in grasshopper classification.
A team of international scientists found that preserving phylogenetic diversity among species can preserve 18% more functional diversity than selecting species at random. However, in some areas and groups, this method was less effective, highlighting the need for further research and adaptation.
The journal has published 4103 articles, 45 newly described animal families, and 8977 species, with a focus on open access and collaboration. Recent issues include a study on mid-sized carnivores in urbanized Europe and the discovery of a new shrub frog species in China.
A new phylogeny of the Pleurodira suborder, including the Yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle, provides insights into the evolutionary history and biogeographical distribution of side-necked turtles. The study found that Pleurodira fossils are scattered across continents, with the oldest species dating back to 125 million years ago.
The journal features two rare species, Poa laegaardiana and Sindora stipitata, and an extensive taxonomic review of genus Ceratozamia. PhytoKeys has accelerated research in botany with its innovative publishing workflow and open access platform.
A comprehensive genomic database for fishes has resolved evolutionary relationships among 131 species, including tuna and seahorses, and identified genetic markers to track divergence through time.
Marine animals such as seals, whales, sharks, turtles, seabirds, and others exhibit similar movement patterns globally, despite differences in geography, phylogeny, or travel mode. In coastal areas, tracking data show complex search behavior, while open ocean movements are more predictable.
Researchers studied angiosperm genera in China, finding that eastern provinces have a 'museum' of ancient plants, while western provinces are an evolutionary cradle for herbaceous genera. The study suggests conservation efforts should focus on connecting nature reserves across provincial borders.
A study mapping China's 30,000 flowering plant species reveals a significant East-West divide in evolutionary relationships and biodiversity. The research highlights the need for conservation efforts in densely populated eastern China to protect threatened plant species and their animals.
Scientists from Moscow State University have discovered the evolutionary pathways of groups of invertebrates with specific tentacular apparatus - the lophophore. The study reveals that lophophorates are the closest relatives, with a common ancestral morphology.
Researchers characterized a mysterious fungus found in North Carolina's pine forests and discovered its home in the fungal tree of life. The study highlights the potential value of environmental sequencing to guide taxonomic and ecological discovery.
Researchers at STRI and JLU discovered a new species of porcelain crab, Pachycheles tuerkayi, found only along the coasts of Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia. The new species has hairy claws and can be distinguished from another similar species, P. serratus, through its unique characteristics.
A new fossil discovery in the Dominican Republic provides evidence for a major radiation of flies (Calyptratae) during the Cenozoic Era, with the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event playing a crucial role. The study estimates that this diversification occurred around 50 million years ago.
Researchers from Kent State University have identified pathologic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease in the brains of aged chimpanzees, similar to human Alzheimer's disease brain pathology. The study found amyloid beta plaques and blood vessels in all 20 aged chimpanzee brains, with increasing sizes correlating to age.
Researchers analyzed DNA sequences from 169 house shrews to uncover their genetic origins and migration routes. The study suggests that people traded on a larger scale than previously thought, with species from Asia and Africa showing similar genetic traits despite geographical distance.
The human appendix has been viewed as a vestigial organ with little known function, but recent research suggests it serves as a secondary immune organ. The appendix has evolved independently in several mammal lineages and is often found in species with higher concentrations of lymphoid tissue.
Ernst Haeckel's groundbreaking work in 1866 introduced the concept of monophyly and natural selection in speciation, illustrating the evolutionary history of organisms as a tree of life. This innovative method has remained unchanged for over 150 years, with its principle being widely adopted to represent biodiversity.
Fossils previously thought to be generic carnivorans are identified as earliest known members of the beardog family, offering a clearer picture of the species' phylogeny. The research reveals that beardogs may have originated in parts of what is now the southwestern U.S.
Researchers found that Hawaiian drosophilids had plural continental ancestors, independently migrating to Hawaii at different times. The team discovered 11 non-Hawaiian Scaptomyza species and reconstructed their phylogeny, estimating ancestral distributions and divergence times.
Researchers at LMU Munich have sequenced mitochondrial DNA from museum specimens of rare deer species, refining the evolutionary history of cervids. The study identifies novel relationships among species, including confirmation of a second muntjac species in Borneo and polyphyletic genera in New World deer.
Researchers used multiplexed shotgun genotyping to uncover species relationships within the North American genus Penstemon. The study confirms ancestral hymenoptera pollination and independent transitions to hummingbird pollination, revealing floral diversity and adaptations.
Researchers discovered an evolutionary link between dinosaurs and dung beetles, with the first molecular evidence indicating their origins in the Lower Cretaceous period. The study suggests that the incorporation of flowering plants in dinosaurs' diet led to a new niche for evolution.
A study by April Cascasan and Thomas Marler reveals that cycad biologists have limited access to crucial information due to inadequate keyword use in historical publications. The authors suggest incorporating keywords like 'cycad' into article titles or index lists to improve discoverability.
Scientists have developed a new method to analyze the genetic tree of diseases like HIV to identify possible gaps in transmission chains. The study uses computational phylogenetic analysis to examine how strains of HIV are transmitted and can now evaluate the possibility of unsampled intermediaries or common sources.
Researchers at Columbia University develop a new model considering life history traits' impact on mutation rates, finding that the molecular clock wobbles as it evolves. This leads to revised estimates of the human-chimp split time, supporting a mutational slowdown and reconciling genetic and paleontological data.
A new iguana species, L. uniformis, has been discovered in the Andean highlands of Central Chile with consistently colored bodies across males and females. The species' unique coloration is consistent even among individuals from different sexes.
Researchers reveal that facultative parthenogenesis is prevalent among snake species, with potentially significant implications for vertebrate evolution. The study proposes splitting this phenomenon into two forms and identifies snakes as ideal model species to investigate the evolution of vertebrate parthenogenesis.
A team of scientists has constructed the most complete look at the evolutionary family tree of cardiid bivalves, including clams and cockles. The study reveals that much of their diversification was localized over time and that some species need to be re-classified.