Researchers identify egg yolk proteins retained in viviparous sharks and rays, which may provide nutrition to developing embryos. The study suggests that these proteins have evolved a new function in cartilaginous fishes, potentially facilitating the transition from egg-laying to live birth.
A new study reveals that the earliest fossils of Bryozoans, a group of tentacle-bearing animals, are actually green algae from China. The discovery suggests that evolution continued over a longer period after the Cambrian explosion and challenges conventional theories about the origins of animal life.
UCLA researchers say an emerging field of study could help tackle intractable human diseases by studying evolution of disease-resistant traits. Insights from ecology and evolution can inform biomedical research, public health measures and clinical care to develop new treatments and improve public health policy.
A review of evidence suggests that increased parental energy investment in young offspring may have facilitated the evolution of larger brains in some species. This is particularly true for warm-blooded species, which tend to invest more energy in their young through actions such as egg production and lactation.
Researchers identify key triggers and active-site theories for dynamic evolution of copper-based catalysts. Strategies for optimizing catalyst performance, including electronic structure tuning and controlling external potential, are discussed.
A study analyzing non-avialan theropod dinosaurs reveals that growth rate and duration played nearly equal roles in body size diversity. Contrary to expectations, changes in both factors contributed significantly to the evolution of giant and miniature sizes among these species.
Lichen-forming fungi have evolved unique gene clusters to produce orange 'sunscreen' pigments, allowing them to thrive in sunny environments. The discovery of a critical ABC transporter gene within the pigment gene cluster provides a potential hypothesis for toxicity avoidance in these organisms.
A 319-million-year-old fossilized fish has provided the oldest example of a well-preserved vertebrate brain, shedding new light on the neural anatomy and early evolution of ray-finned fishes. The discovery reveals that brain evolution in these animals unfolded more complexly than previously thought.
A study published in Genome Biology and Evolution found a core genetic toolkit for reproductive division of labor in rudimentary insect societies. The authors identified common genes associated with fundamental social divisions in bees and wasps, suggesting a universal molecular 'theme' for cooperation across species.
Evolution has occurred rapidly in Chesapeake Bay wetlands, potentially reducing the ability of coastal marshes to withstand future sea level rise. Plants now allocate less resources to roots below ground, allowing for quicker carbon storage, possibly due to increased pollution.
Research reveals that evolutionary processes play a larger role in regulating ecosystem function, particularly in coastal marshes. Dominant plants' rapid growth and low decomposition rates allow them to store large amounts of carbon, but neglecting trait variation and evolution in models can mischaracterize ecosystem resilience.
A new study published in Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health found that proper hand hygiene in clinical work can reduce the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The researchers developed a mathematical model to predict how good or poor hygiene affects resistance evolution, and tested it against data from 691 long-term care facil...
Researchers found that many changes to human DNA had opposing effects, with some variants making enhancers stronger while others made them weaker. This discovery has implications for understanding human evolution and the potential link between human DNA variations and psychiatric diseases.
Scientists reveal phase-transition-temperature-dependent structure evolution process of intermetallic compounds, a crucial step in synthesizing efficient fuel cell electrocatalysts. The research provides a guideline to optimize alloying and ordering processes, leading to improved particle sizes and catalytic activity.
Scientists have developed a novel metric to analyze the rate of convergent evolution in protein-coding DNA sequences. This approach can reveal which genetic changes are associated with phenotypic traits, shedding light on how species diversify over time.
Heidelberg researchers decoded genetic regulation of sperm formation across various mammal species, including humans. The study revealed a time-related pattern of gene expression differences, highlighting the rapid evolution of spermatogenesis.
A recent study on fossil katydids from the Mesozoic Era provides novel insights into the evolution of acoustic organs and behavior. The research team discovered exceptionally preserved Mesozoic katydids with the earliest known insect ears, extending the age range of modern-type auditory tympana by 100 million years.
A new study compiled data on over 3,000 species to show how climate and geologic changes across Asia influenced the evolution of mammals. The research found clear links between changes in Earth's climate and the distribution of mammals in different regions.
A new web-based tool called Taxonium is helping scientists track the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses by analyzing massive genetic datasets. The analysis reveals that COVID-19 variants worldwide are repeatedly evolving the same mutations, suggesting a convergent evolutionary process.
Researcher William Thompson's winning essay explores how social interactions shape human cognitive algorithms, shedding light on the evolutionary process of cognition. His studies show that accumulated generational knowledge is essential for adapting to new situations.
A study led by Gabriel Filippelli suggests that the evolution of tree roots during the Devonian Period caused massive algae growth, depleting ocean oxygen and triggering mass extinctions. The researchers found that tree roots released excess nutrients into the oceans during times of decay, leading to catastrophic events.
A new study has revealed the genetic basis of argonaut octopus characteristics, including its unusual eggcase structure and adaptations for a pelagic lifestyle. The smallest known cephalopod genome was found in Argonauta argo, with significant differences in Hox gene arrangements and reflectin and tyrosinase gene clusters.
A KAUST-led team creates selective anode catalysts for stable and efficient hydrogen evolution in seawater splitting. The nanoreactors exhibited high electrocatalytic activity and stability due to their unique structure, isolating the electrolysis from side reactions.
A new international collaboration has explored the suitable conditions for polyester microdroplet synthesis and assembly, revealing that they can form in much wider conditions than previously understood. The research suggests that polyester microdroplets could have played a role in chemical evolution on early Earth.
Climate variability in eastern Africa influenced hominin evolution, leading to anatomically distinct groups and modern human separation. Researchers analyzed lake sediment cores, revealing stable humid conditions, abrupt arid pulses, and extreme environmental shifts.
Researchers have discovered a 380-million-year-old heart and surrounding organs in an ancient fish, providing new insights into the evolution of human bodies. The discovery, published in Science, found that the position of organs in the body is similar to modern shark anatomy.
A new study finds that lab adaptation involves mutations to highly conserved proteins, but natural adaptation exhibits more complex patterns, including non-conservation within functional domains. Lab conditions differ significantly from natural environments with variable and changing selective pressures.
Scientists argue that shallow-water mining is not a sustainable alternative to deep-water mining due to the removal of habitat and biodiversity loss. The authors caution that the extraction of valuable materials requires rigorous environmental evaluation before it can be declared safe and sustainable.
Researchers discovered that tetrapods had more complex connections between skull bones than fish, limiting their evolution for millions of years. This complexity resulted in a single, consolidated skull unit, whereas fish ancestors had multiple distinct sections.
A team of scientists generated a molecular atlas of the Australian bearded dragon's brain, comparing it to mouse data. The findings suggest that both reptilian and mammalian brains evolved clade-specific neuron types from a common ancestral set, challenging popular views on brain evolution.
A new study reveals that the emergence of a new gene called PGBD1 is linked to the evolution of a new structure in nerve cells. PGBD1 controls paraspeckles, tiny structures that act like traps for RNAs and proteins, and its regulation is crucial for nerve cell development.
Researchers at Hokkaido University propose two novel hypotheses to address the 'two-fold cost of sex' in sexual reproduction. The first hypothesis suggests that meiosis eliminates harmful mutations through a process known as the 'seesaw effect.' The second hypothesis proposes that anisogamy evolved through 'inflated isogamy,' where lar...
Researchers found that frogs with few predators rely on escape strategies with large brains and conspicuous coloration, while those with many predators use camouflage with smaller brains. This study establishes a link between brain evolution and predator evasion strategies.
Scientists have gained insight into how evolution takes place and how several species evolved from a single one by studying trees found in the Galapagos Islands. The research revealed genetic variations associated with vascular development, growth, adaptation to salinity, and flowering time.
A recent study has revealed that the great current diversity of eukaryotes is largely due to the large number of habitat transitions between sea and land over millions of years. Microbial eukaryotes have made hundreds of leaps from one habitat to another, allowing them to occupy vacant ecological niches.
The study of flying spider-monkey tree fern genome provides insights into fern evolution and arborescence. Ferns developed vascular tissues, including xylem and phloem, to transport water, nutrients, and food, which is a key innovation in land plant evolution.
A Yale University-led team found that a plant lineage independently evolved three similar leaf types over and over again in various mountainous regions across the neotropics. The study's findings provide evidence for 'replicated radiation,' suggesting that evolution can be predictable under certain circumstances.
Researchers developed a novel graphene-based NiSe2 nanocrystalline array that significantly enhances the efficiency of hydrogen evolution reactions. The composite material achieves an overpotential of 158 mV and exhibits extremely stable performance, providing a promising approach for the development of high-efficiency electrocatalysts.
A Harvard researcher has been awarded a $1.1 million grant to study the evolution of aerial breathing in arthropods, exploring how they transitioned from water to land over 100 million years ago. The team aims to understand the role of atmospheric oxygen in facilitating this process and its impact on respiratory structures.
A team of Chinese and Australian astronomers has discovered direct evidence for binary common envelope evolution, a key process in star evolution. The observation provides a way to accurately characterize this process through direct detection.
Scientists reconstructed Miocene climatic evolution in southeast Indian Ocean using deep-sea sediments. The research suggests a significant climate transition occurred after the formation of Antarctic ice sheets, with wetter conditions and stronger continental chemical weathering in southwest Australia.
Researchers studied Australian native bee Amphylaeus morosus, finding it exhibits extreme reproductive skew and high relatedness, which challenges theories on social complexity. The study provides evidence that kin selection can promote worker sterility at the initial transition to social living.
Researchers at UTA and international collaborators have discovered the regulatory architecture that drives snake venom expression, shedding light on the evolution of complex traits. The study provides a detailed explanation of how snakes developed specialized venom glands to produce diverse deadly proteins.
Researchers anchored Mo2C nanoparticles onto MAPbI3 to enhance photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution. The composite exhibits superior performance, surpassing pristine MAPbI3 and Pt-deposited MAPbI3.
Researchers suggest that giraffes' unique head and neck morphologies were adapted for fierce head-butting behavior in competition for mates. The discovery of ancient fossils reveals a complex evolution driven by both food competition and sexual selection.
Researchers found that wild animal populations exhibit significant genetic differences in traits related to reproduction, enabling rapid adaptation to environmental changes. The study's findings suggest a potential speed-up in evolution due to natural selection, with implications for species' adaptability to climate change.
A new study has discovered that the raw material for evolution is much more abundant in wild animals than previously believed. Researchers found that many populations of birds and mammals can evolve surprisingly fast, with their genetic difference in survival and reproduction being two to four times higher than previously thought.
A new study reveals that most mutations in biologically essential genes change steadily and randomly across 700 million years of evolution. This constant drift makes it impossible to reliably predict the effects of most mutations into the future or back into the past.
Researchers discovered banded iron formations as a new geochemical archive to study the early Earth's evolution. They found that iron- and silica-rich layers deposited from seawater can record the Earth's mantle and crust development. This approach offers new insights into the Precambrian Earth.
A global survey of ocean RNA sequences has identified thousands of previously unknown RNA viruses, doubling the number of orthornavirans. The study reveals new insights into the evolution of RNA viruses, including a 'missing link' in retroelement evolution.
Research from UMass Amherst found that disbelief in human evolution is associated with higher levels of prejudice and racist attitudes. The study, conducted across 19 Eastern European countries, 25 Muslim countries, and Israel, linked low belief in evolution to biased attitudes towards outgroups and support for discriminatory behavior.
Researchers found that urbanization increases hydrogen cyanide production in white clover as a defense mechanism against herbivores. The study, published in Science, reveals adaptive evolution due to urbanization is driving global-scale changes in plant species.
Using a previously published and carefully curated dataset, researchers reconstructed the evolution of protein sequences to build a comprehensive evolutionary tree of beetles. The study provides a refined timescale of beetle evolution, with over 400 thousand species described.
A study led by University of Toronto researchers found that human activity is driving adaptation in white clover plants across cities worldwide. The findings, published in Science, highlight the genetic basis of urban adaptation and the environmental drivers of evolution.
A massive study on white clover found that urbanization leads to adaptive evolution at a global scale. RIT scientists collected over 110,000 samples from 160 cities across six continents to test a chemical defense compound's effect on stress tolerance.
A team of researchers found that evolution has an overwhelming preference for simple algorithms, leading to the emergence of highly symmetric structures in biology. This is because simple recipes are more efficient and easier to follow than complex ones, resulting in a higher probability of producing symmetrical outcomes.
Researchers studied Indriidae lemurs to understand the impact of climate, body size, and color vision on hair evolution, providing a unique window into human hair evolution. The study fills gaps in our understanding of human evolutionary story by comparing non-human primate hair patterns.
A comprehensive analysis of brain cellular composition across amniotes shows that mammals and birds have dramatically increased neuron numbers in the telencephalon and cerebellum, associated with higher cognition. The study suggests that only a handful of unique evolutionary events augmented brain processing power in these groups.
Researchers from Tokyo Tech elucidated the molecular evolution of NRK, revealing a novel mechanism regulating placental development by modulating the CK2-PTEN-AKT pathway. The study showed that NRK underwent rapid molecular evolution to acquire its function in eutherian ancestors.
Researchers developed a statistical model to explain sudden changes and stasis in species history, finding they can be attributed to natural variability. The study supports Darwin's theory of gradual evolution by demonstrating that even abrupt changes are underpinned by directional selection.