A new study describes three new species of fruit flies, including A. minor, A. summissus, and A. unicus, which are potential biological control agents and pests of economically important crop plants. The research also provides a revision of the genus Acanthiophilus and sheds light on its phylogeny.
A new study by researchers from Linnaeus University demonstrates that a higher degree of individual variation is beneficial to populations and species. The findings suggest that more variable populations are less vulnerable to environmental changes, show decreased fluctuations in population size, have superior establishment success, la...
Scientists have developed a technique to capture rapidly evolving intronic regions of the genome, increasing knowledge of evolution in difficult groups. The new method resolved evolutionary relationships between closely related Heuchera species, previously impossible to infer.
A study of 25 snake species in South America found that their diets were more influenced by phylogeny than ecology. The research suggests that the snakes' ancestry plays a significant role in determining their diet, with some species relying on soft-bodied invertebrates.
Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have discovered a new method to detect Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a bacterium that has contaminated oyster beds and sickened consumers in the Northeast. The detection platform uses genome sequencing and analysis to identify specific genes found only in the invasive strain.
A new study provides an accurate description of citrus evolution, tracing the genus back to a single common ancestor and identifying six genes driving genetic variation. The research also sheds light on the emergence of popular citrus species like mandarins and lemons.
A new species of terror bird, Llallawavis scagliai, has been discovered with exceptionally preserved fossils revealing details about its anatomy and sensory capabilities. The study provides insights into the evolution, behavior, and ecology of this group of fossil birds.
A study by University of Cambridge researchers found that closely-related fruit fly species show similar levels of virulence when infected with an RNA virus. The team's findings suggest a simple rule of thumb: if a pathogen causes high levels of mortality in one host, it may also be deadly in closely-related hosts.
The study analyzed microbial activities in Alaskan soils, revealing diverse species and genes involved in degrading organic carbon and producing greenhouse gases. Researchers also found evidence of previously undescribed microbes and insights into microbial survival strategies in permafrost.
Recent studies of Mesozoic mammals in China reveal a diverse range of species, with many exhibiting mammalian characteristics. The findings provide insights into the evolution of the mammalian middle ear and the origin of mammals, with implications for our understanding of vertebrate biology.
A new pipeline combines multiple gene-finding tools to identify genetic markers for phylogenetic study from limited genomic data. The approach, MAKER2, was used to develop loci useful for phylogenetic study in the flowering plant genus Penstemon.
A team of scientists completed the largest whole genome study of a single class of animals to date, sequencing and comparing full genomes of 48 bird species. The study resolves early branches in the tree of life of modern birds, providing new insights into their evolutionary history and adaptation to different lifestyles.
A team of over 100 experts analyzed 144 carefully chosen species and 1,000 insect transcriptomes to reconstruct the insect tree of life. The study reveals that insects originated around 480 million years ago and developed wings 400 million years ago.
Scientists discovered a new land snail species, Aegista diversifamilia, in eastern Taiwan, confirming previous suggestions of cryptic species within the previously identified A. subchinensis. The new species is larger and has a different shell shape than A. subchinensis, highlighting the importance of biogeographic barriers.
A study by the Stowers Institute for Medical Research reveals that the sea lamprey, a jawless vertebrate, exhibits a pattern of gene expression reminiscent of its jawed cousins, indicating that the genetic program used by jawed vertebrates was up and running ages before they possessed recognizable faces. This finding suggests that regu...
A recent study published in PLOS ONE has found that older Caribbean coral species exhibit fewer diseases and better immunity than newer species. Researchers examined 140 samples of 14 species, including the ancient Porites astreoides coral, which has been around for over 200 million years.
A new study published in PNAS suggests that migratory birds evolved from species that lived year-round in North America. Researchers created a model to analyze the evolutionary changes of migratory bird species and found that most species originated from temperate regions before migrating to tropical areas.
A large-scale biogeographic analysis by GW researcher Alex Pyron shows that amphibians have moved across the planet throughout time, with some species dispersing long distances over water. The study reveals three major processes driving their distribution: vicariance, dispersal, and unexpected oceanic dispersals.
A study published in PLOS ONE analyzed Neolithic deer hair from the Tyrolean Iceman's clothing to shed light on red deer lineage. The results indicate that Alpine Copper Age red deer falls within the western European lineage, contrasting with current populations in the Italian Alps which belong to the eastern lineage.
The journal, one of the world's oldest entomology journals, adopts a new open access format to increase visibility and dissemination of research papers. This innovation allows authors to freely share their work, promoting increased citation rates and collaboration opportunities.
Researchers identified 24 functional categories of genes with strong positive selection in ant lineages, including those related to nervous system development and immunity. Ant-specific signals on mitochondrial activity genes may be responsible for increased queen lifespan up to 30 years.
Scientists reconstructed the phylogeny and biological history of Yellow-shouldered bats in the New World tropics, revealing three new species. The study highlights the importance of museum collections in uncovering new knowledge and demonstrates the need for ongoing revision of the Earth's biological history.
A recent analysis suggests that people moved out from the Bering Land Bridge, with some migrating back to central Asia and others into North America. The findings support the Out-of-Beringia hypothesis, indicating a complex migration pattern.
A new tool called REALPHY reconstructs evolutionary trees from sequencing data without errors and biases. The method is simple enough for biologists to use, generating accurate phylogenies quickly.
A new study by Florida State University researchers questions the traditional model of biological diversification, finding that colonizing continents does not lead to rapid adaptive radiation. However, they did discover a weak effect of first colonizers suppressing diversity among later colonizers.
Scientists used state-of-the-art genome sequencing and bioinformatics to resolve the long-standing question of ants' evolutionary relationships. The study found that ants are more closely related to bees than to most wasps, with ants forming a sister group to the Apoidea family within Hymenoptera.
A comprehensive family tree of the spiny-rayed fish group, including tuna and seahorses, has revealed surprising relationships and shed light on their evolution and diversity. The study found that some groups of fish have undergone rapid diversification followed by a slowdown in evolution.
Researchers from LMU Munich uncovered well-preserved fish fossils, shedding light on the gobioid order's evolution and classification. The discovery of perfectly preserved otoliths allowed for a genetic code-like analysis, placing a new species in the Butidae family.
Researchers analyze over 1,000 genes from 23 yeast species to identify reasons for conflicting phylogenetic trees and propose new methods to improve accuracy. They find that genetic data is less reliable during periods of rapid radiation and that the value of DNA data may have a similar limit.
Ancient DNA analysis confirms Yersinia pestis as the cause of the Justinianic Plague. The results provide insights into the phylogeny and origin of this plague, contradicting previous theories. This breakthrough sheds new light on a major pandemic in European history.
A GWU biologist has created the largest-ever evolutionary family tree for all known snake and lizard groups, covering over 4,000 species. The study, published in BMC Evolutionary Biology, provides a comprehensive classification system for these reptiles.
A new 'tree of life' for fishes has been recharted with the help of genetic and physical information, revealing significant changes to existing ideas on fish relationships. The research improves scientists' ability to predict how closely related species might react to environmental factors like climate change.
The completed genome sequencing of DBM provides insights into insect adaptation to host plants and opens new ways for more sustainable pest management. The study identified gene families involved in detoxification, including ABC transporters, P450 monooxygenases, glutathione S-transferases, and carboxylesterase.
Scientists have developed a software model called TreeMix that compares genetic variants across populations to infer history of population splits and mixtures. This new approach reveals complex relationships among human populations, including interbreeding with wolves in dog breeds.
Researchers mapped out where birds live to show areas with most diversity, finding it accelerated in the Western Hemisphere. The 'phylogeny' could help prioritize conservation efforts by identifying species at greatest risk of extinction.
Entomologists at UC Riverside reconstructed the evolutionary history of assassin bugs using molecular, paleontological, behavioral, and ecological data. The new phylogeny reveals that kissing bugs originated around 27-32 million years ago, contradicting previous estimates, and suggests a single origin or two separate but close origins.
Many fruit fly species lack heat resistance, making them vulnerable to predicted global temperature increases. Researchers found that most tropical and mid-latitude species are at risk of extinction without adaptation.
Researchers studying live oaks in eastern North America aim to understand how trees adapted to climate change during glacial periods. They believe that genetic changes, rather than extensive morphological alterations, allowed oaks to migrate and thrive in colder climates.
Amanita mushroom evolution shifts from decomposing to symbiotic tree relationships, resulting in lost genetic capacity, according to Harvard researchers. The study reveals the transition came at a steep price, with genes associated with breaking down cellulose being sacrificed.
Bess B. Ward has received the 2012 Procter & Gamble Award in Applied and Environmental Microbiology for her sustained influence on marine microbiology and contributions to understanding nitrogen cycling processes in low-oxygen regions of the ocean.
Research reveals that gut microbes fine-tune body weight by extracting energy from food, with changes in diet and environment significantly altering their composition. The study suggests that therapeutic modification of the gut microbiome may offer a promising approach to treating obesity and related health conditions.
Researchers developed two collaborative games to teach phylogeny, a tree diagram representing evolutionary history. Phylo-Genie improved student scores on post-tests compared to pen-and-paper exercises, while Build-a-Tree demonstrated active prolonged engagement in informal museum settings.
A molecular phylogeny study reveals three Mediterranean species as a separate evolutionary line, sister group to all remaining Delphinieae. The genus Staphisagria has been resurrected for these species, which share traits not found in Delphinium or Aconitum.
A new study by Indiana University researchers finds that climate change will outpace species' ability to adapt, with ranges shifting dramatically between now and 2100. The rate of future change in suitable habitat will be two to three orders of magnitude greater than the average change over the past 300 millennia.
A new grass family tree reveals that the C4 photosynthetic pathway has evolved in grasses over 20 times within the last 30 million years. The study suggests that once C4 evolution occurs, it's unlikely to reverse, making scientists interested in engineering this pathway into drought-tolerant crops.
A new study found that the evolutionary shaping of floral scents in oil-secreting orchids is more closely tied to their genetic history than to natural selection driven by specific pollinators. Researchers discovered that scent profiles fell along phylogenetic lines, even when different bee species were involved.
Scientists have pieced together the most comprehensive phylogeny for mollusks, revealing surprising relationships between enigmatic groups. The study places Monoplacophora, thought extinct, as a sister clade to cephalopods, and establishes a single origin for shelled mollusks.
Scientists have found a new family of wasps in North American amber, which are closely related to families found in South America and southern Africa. The discovery sheds light on the origins of stinging wasps and their distribution patterns.
Researchers have created a large DNA matrix representing 99% of mammalian families, providing a robust framework for understanding evolutionary history and classification. The study reveals key diversification events in response to environmental changes, including the Cretaceous-Tertiary Mass extinction.
A large and robust DNA matrix represents all mammalian families, covering their earliest history and deepest divergences. The dataset enables biologists to take the next leap in understanding mammalian evolution and biodiversity.
Researchers have assembled a comprehensive data set to reconstruct the phylogeny of mollusks, revealing a close relationship between snails and mussels. The study confirms an old hypothesis that molluscs are divided into two subphyla, but with unexpected results, including the sister taxa status of snails and mussels.
University of Pennsylvania researchers have developed a new technique for analyzing phylogenies, showing that the results stand up against known fossil history of whale species. The method allows for changing rates of speciation and extinction over time and among lineages.
Scientists discover six new species of Eucalantica micro-moths in Central America, revealing a higher diversity and wider distribution than previously thought. The discoveries highlight the vast underexplored biodiversity of life on Earth, with only 20% of extant species described.
Researchers found that fully photosynthetic orchids associate with specific fungal clades, not shared with other sympatric orchids, and depend on their symbionts for nutrition. The study used stable isotope analysis to assess how much of the organic carbon and nitrogen in orchid tissue was acquired from their fungal partners.
Researchers sequenced 40 new specimens of thaliaceans, a type of free-swimming tunicate, to gain insights into their evolutionary relationships. The study found close ties between thaliaceans and sea squirts, revealing a common ancestor for these groups.
Researchers have sequenced two isolates from an E. coli outbreak, providing valuable genomic information to aid in understanding the origins of highly pathogenic strains. The genome annotations reveal unique islands and proteins that may hold clues to virulence or intervention strategies for the new strains.
A new online tool, Mouse Phylogeny Viewer, allows researchers to select from 162 strains of laboratory mice for which the entire genome has been characterized. This tool enables scientists to design better experiments by selecting strains with greater genetic diversity, ultimately improving the translation of results to humans.
Researchers have created a genome-wide map of most inbred mouse strains, finding that they represent only limited genetic diversity. The team hopes to expand this diversity by adding wild mouse populations, which could lead to more effective translation of experimental results to humans.
Researchers propose that a prolonged dry spell and lower atmospheric carbon dioxide levels drove the rise of cacti and other succulents, leading to rapid speciation between 5-10 million years ago. This coincided with species explosions in other plant groups, including C4 grasses, which burst onto the scene during the same time period.
A team of genome researchers has concluded that domesticated rice may have first appeared as far back as approximately 9,000 years ago in the Yangtze Valley of China. The study used large-scale gene re-sequencing to analyze the evolutionary history of domesticated rice.