Articles tagged with Evolutionary Theories
Comprehensive exploration of living organisms, biological systems, and life processes across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Encompasses cutting-edge research in biology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Investigates cellular mechanisms, organism development, genetic inheritance, biodiversity conservation, metabolic processes, protein synthesis, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell research, and the fundamental principles governing all forms of life on Earth.
Comprehensive medical research, clinical studies, and healthcare sciences focused on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Encompasses clinical medicine, public health, pharmacology, epidemiology, medical specialties, disease mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, healthcare innovation, precision medicine, telemedicine, medical devices, drug development, clinical trials, patient care, mental health, nutrition science, health policy, and the application of medical science to improve human health, wellbeing, and quality of life across diverse populations.
Comprehensive investigation of human society, behavior, relationships, and social structures through systematic research and analysis. Encompasses psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, linguistics, education, demography, communications, and social research methodologies. Examines human cognition, social interactions, cultural phenomena, economic systems, political institutions, language and communication, educational processes, population dynamics, and the complex social, cultural, economic, and political forces shaping human societies, communities, and civilizations throughout history and across the contemporary world.
Fundamental study of the non-living natural world, matter, energy, and physical phenomena governing the universe. Encompasses physics, chemistry, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, materials science, and the investigation of physical laws, chemical reactions, geological processes, climate systems, and planetary dynamics. Explores everything from subatomic particles and quantum mechanics to planetary systems and cosmic phenomena, including energy transformations, molecular interactions, elemental properties, weather patterns, tectonic activity, and the fundamental forces and principles underlying the physical nature of reality.
Practical application of scientific knowledge and engineering principles to solve real-world problems and develop innovative technologies. Encompasses all engineering disciplines, technology development, computer science, artificial intelligence, environmental sciences, agriculture, materials applications, energy systems, and industrial innovation. Bridges theoretical research with tangible solutions for infrastructure, manufacturing, computing, communications, transportation, construction, sustainable development, and emerging technologies that advance human capabilities, improve quality of life, and address societal challenges through scientific innovation and technological progress.
Study of the practice, culture, infrastructure, and social dimensions of science itself. Addresses how science is conducted, organized, communicated, and integrated into society. Encompasses research funding mechanisms, scientific publishing systems, peer review processes, academic ethics, science policy, research institutions, scientific collaboration networks, science education, career development, research programs, scientific methods, science communication, and the sociology of scientific discovery. Examines the human, institutional, and cultural aspects of scientific enterprise, knowledge production, and the translation of research into societal benefit.
Comprehensive study of the universe beyond Earth, encompassing celestial objects, cosmic phenomena, and space exploration. Includes astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, cosmology, space physics, astrobiology, and space technology. Investigates stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, black holes, nebulae, exoplanets, dark matter, dark energy, cosmic microwave background, stellar evolution, planetary formation, space weather, solar system dynamics, the search for extraterrestrial life, and humanity's efforts to explore, understand, and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos through observation, theory, and space missions.
Comprehensive examination of tools, techniques, methodologies, and approaches used across scientific disciplines to conduct research, collect data, and analyze results. Encompasses experimental procedures, analytical methods, measurement techniques, instrumentation, imaging technologies, spectroscopic methods, laboratory protocols, observational studies, statistical analysis, computational methods, data visualization, quality control, and methodological innovations. Addresses the practical techniques and theoretical frameworks enabling scientists to investigate phenomena, test hypotheses, gather evidence, ensure reproducibility, and generate reliable knowledge through systematic, rigorous investigation across all areas of scientific inquiry.
Study of abstract structures, patterns, quantities, relationships, and logical reasoning through pure and applied mathematical disciplines. Encompasses algebra, calculus, geometry, topology, number theory, analysis, discrete mathematics, mathematical logic, set theory, probability, statistics, and computational mathematics. Investigates mathematical structures, theorems, proofs, algorithms, functions, equations, and the rigorous logical frameworks underlying quantitative reasoning. Provides the foundational language and tools for all scientific fields, enabling precise description of natural phenomena, modeling of complex systems, and the development of technologies across physics, engineering, computer science, economics, and all quantitative sciences.
A team of UNLV-led researchers questions the hypothesis that modern humans experienced an evolutionary decrease in brain size during the transition to complex societies. They analyzed a dataset of early human fossil and museum specimens, finding no reduction in brain size over 30,000 years.
Researchers found that asexual whiptail lizards accumulate more harmful genetic mutations than their sexual counterparts due to relaxed natural selection. This study supports the theory that sex is more efficient at removing harmful mutations and maintaining genomic health.
A new study published in Behavior Genetics found that natural selection favors characteristics associated with lower earnings and poorer education, such as having more children. The research, led by UEA, analyzed data from over 300,000 people in the UK and suggests that this may be contributing to increasing income inequality.
Scientists studied embryonic development in fish and cartilaginous fish, revealing that the jaw shares a common developmental origin with the gill. The findings support the theory that the jaw evolved by modification of an ancestral gill, which was previously considered controversial.
A new study in Science found that many species of turtles and tortoises have slowed or switched off senescence, challenging evolutionary theories. Out of 52 species, 75% show extremely slow senescence, and 80% have slower senescence than modern humans.
A new model from researchers at the University of Southern California and Lund University suggests that spontaneous movements made by a fetus in the womb are key to getting the body's nervous system 'wired up.' This discovery has implications for treating neuromuscular disorders and designing better robots.
A recent study found that even tiny marine invertebrates have distinct and diverse microbial communities, called microbiomes. These findings challenge the assumption that closely related animals share similar microbiomes.
A new study found that mountain streams are signaling climate change through changes in invertebrate populations, which can indicate ecosystem health. The researchers discovered that diversity tends to increase downstream but is lowest near lakes, highlighting the need for protecting these ecosystems from diversions and habitat damage.
Researchers found that wild orangutans have distinct 'vocal personalities' shaped by their social groups, with high-density populations using more original calls and lower density populations favoring established ones. This discovery further establishes a link between ape language and human language evolution.
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 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.
Researchers identify three types of mechanisms underlying evolvability, including determinants providing variation, shaping the effect of variation on fitness, and shaping the selection process. Evolvability also depends on the timescale, with asexually reproducing organisms evolving faster but reaching lower adaptation levels, while s...
Biological systems have the potential to make mistakes, providing a starting point for generating new scientific questions. The authors propose a theoretical framework that describes the nature of mistake-making and its common processes, with applications to blood clotting.
Researchers found physical differences in femur, dental structures across specimens suggesting re-categorization into three groups or species. Two new species, T. imperator and T. regina, are proposed based on analysis of 37 Tyrannosaurus specimens.
Researchers discovered two dominant strategies among flatworms: reciprocal males receive more resources, while hypodermic mated species invest heavily in female organs. Self-fertilization in these species increases with hypodermic mating, suggesting a common evolutionary principle between plants and worms.
A new study found that pollutants can be transmitted over many generations in water fleas, persisting long enough to influence the evolutionary process. The effects of low doses of pollutants were detected even after switching to clean water, indicating stable epigenetic marks passed down through generations.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that changing social strategies between settings can lead to more cooperative behavior in a society. In a model with spillover between domains, cooperation is favored when actors can observe and imitate each other's behaviors in different contexts.
Scientists sequenced DNA and measured Island Monarchs, revealing they settle down more readily than expected after colonizing an island. The study confirms the importance of island regions in species evolution, adding new knowledge to biogeography.
Researchers discovered a genetic mutation associated with small body size in dogs that also occurred in ancient wolves over 50,000 years ago. This finding presents a new evolutionary narrative and challenges the long-held theory that humans domesticated large wolves to create small companions.
Researchers found a significant increase in disgust sensitivity among participants concerned about contracting COVID-19, affecting not only disease-related scenarios but also unrelated situations. The 'calibration hypothesis' suggests that disgust sensitivity is a fluid measure changing with time and circumstance.
Researchers discovered RNA can bind two metabolites in a single pocket, regulating gene expression and potentially creating new antibacterial drugs. This finding provides more support for the 'RNA World' theory, which suggests RNA molecules enabled life to evolve 3.5 billion years ago.
A new theory outlines how magnetite crystals in specialized receptor cells of salmon and other animals may have roots in ancient genetic systems developed by bacteria, suggesting a common evolutionary history between magnetite-producing bacteria and fish. The findings have the potential for widespread application, from improving salmon...
A team of researchers proposes that endothermy in mammals and birds has a common ancestry and is much older than previously accepted. They found evidence of endothermy in early ancestors of modern birds and mammals, including Pelycosaurs and Pareiasaurs.
Researchers used computational modeling and developmental genetic techniques to study grass leaf formation, finding that current theories are likely incorrect and a 19th-century proposal is closer to the truth. The discovery sheds light on how simple growth rules can generate diverse leaf shapes.
African and Asian primates evolved stronger resistance to cobras' venoms, while Madagascan Lemurs and Central and South American monkeys lacked this defense due to reduced eyesight
A 100-million-year-old crab fossil discovered in amber is helping scientists understand the evolution of non-marine crabs. The fossil, named Cretapsara athanata, provides crucial evidence that these crustaceans colonized land around 125 million years ago, bridging a long-standing gap in the fossil record.
Researchers at Skoltech extend the adiabatic theorem to finite temperatures, ensuring more stable quantum dynamics. The findings have significant implications for next-generation quantum devices and computing.
Using observations, lab experiments, theory, and computation, researchers have developed a simple theory to explain the form and growth of apples' cusp-like features. The team found that mechanical instability and underlying fruit anatomy play joint roles in giving rise to multiple cusps in fruits.
Researchers sequenced genomes of 90 Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes and found that potentially damaging gene mutations were less abundant. This suggests that inbreeding might not be as detrimental as theory predicts, as beneficial mutations can easily purge bad ones. The study's findings could influence management decisions.
A new study from the Kalahari Desert finds that teamwork allows birds to cope with brutally unpredictable environments. The research team at the University of Exeter shows that families with more helpers successfully raise more chicks in dry conditions, reducing weather-driven variation in breeding success.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered that bacteria can adapt to changing environments by learning statistical regularities, enabling them to predict the future faster than traditional evolutionary methods. The study reveals a simple regulatory architecture that allows bacteria to process information and mak...
Warming oceans are causing fish to struggle with both survival and adaptation, leading to potential extinction. The research found that warmer waters reduce the size of fish, making it harder for them to relocate to more suitable environments, and also limit their ability to evolve and cope with changing temperatures.
The study reveals that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii undergoes mutations leading to the emergence of multicellular life. The experiment confirms a theory on the origin of multicellularity, where cell groups are better at reproduction and more likely to survive than single cells.
Researchers at the University of Bristol developed the concept of 'evotype' to capture the evolutionary potential of biosystems. The evotype framework provides a means for bioengineers to control evolution by adjusting variation, function, and selection.
A new study confirms the island rule, showing that insular gigantism and dwarfism are generalized patterns across vertebrates. The effects are more pronounced in smaller, remote islands for mammals and reptiles.
New fossil discoveries of over 300 million-year-old lampreys have upended the long-held theory on vertebrate origin, showing that ancient lamprey hatchlings were unlike their modern larvae counterparts. The findings suggest that extinct armored fishes might represent better candidates for the root of the vertebrate family tree.
Researchers developed a statistical framework to test and quantify adaptation in complex biological systems, enabling prediction of evolutionary outcomes. The new framework allows for rigorous analysis of organism adaptation to their ecological niche, building bridges between mathematics and biology.
Research found that pathogens with intermediate virulence are most evolutionarily successful, as they balance harm and transmission. This challenges conventional wisdom that new diseases evolve to become harmless.
New research by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and University of Exeter reveals that mountain gorilla groups are more likely to be friendly with each other when they meet again, even if they had split over a decade earlier. This behavior is similar to human friendships and may help the group share limited space and resources.
Researchers created the largest available timeline of reptile evolution using CT scans and fossil data from over 1,000 specimens. The study found that major transitions in evolution occurred through many small bursts of morphological changes over 50 million years, contradicting a widely held theory on rapid evolutionary bursts.
Researchers analyzed woodpeckers' drumming signals to understand their function and diversification. Despite changes in structure, the amount of biological information about species identity remained consistent for 22 million years.
Researchers tested anoles' bones for responsiveness to mechanical stress, finding it didn't drive evolutionary divergence; instead, simple genetic changes likely led to repeated traits.
A new study from Stanford University proposes that the brain was constructed over evolutionary history to make high-stakes decisions with a bias towards pessimism. This perspective challenges traditional economic models, which assume humans act rationally and weigh probabilities to maximize personal gain.
Researchers used DNA sequencing, 3D imaging, and computation to examine the taxon cycle hypothesis for how evolution occurs on islands. They found that all 14 endemic ant species were descended from a single colonizer, contradicting the theory's prediction of repeated colonizations.
Researchers found that chimpanzees are more motivated to cooperate and warn others than bonobos, who rely less on each other. This suggests that the interdependence hypothesis may be supported, where humans' reliance on cooperation evolved from hunting large prey or conflict with other groups.
A new review reveals a surprising number of exceptions to the purported rules of sex chromosome evolution, questioning their applicability across species. Global dosage compensation is found to be the exception rather than the rule, and studies show high rates of turnover and diversity in sex chromosomes.
Researchers found that marine species are moving up to six times faster than their terrestrial counterparts in response to global warming. The study analyzed over 12,000 species and found that certain conditions enable marine species to adapt quickly to temperature shifts towards the poles.
A new study maps genetic diversity in terrestrial mammals, revealing regions with high evolutionary history and stable climates as strongholds of genetic diversity. The research suggests that conservation efforts should prioritize the protection of these 'arks of biodiversity' due to climate change.
A new theory proposes that human fatherhood emerged as a response to changing ecological conditions, with males partnering up for mutual benefits. Paternal care became widespread in modern human societies, despite being rare among mammals.
A UCL-led study reveals that certain organisms, like C. elegans roundworms, possess self-destruct programs to prevent overliving and benefit their colonies. This adaptive mechanism reduces food demand and increases reproductive success, providing a winning strategy for the community.
Scientists at Uppsala University propose the SNAP Hypothesis to explain why genes move on chromosomes. This hypothesis suggests that tandem duplications of chromosome sections occur frequently, leading to changes in gene order over time. Random loss of unnecessary duplicated genes can result in rapid rearrangements of remaining genes.
A team of scientists discovered evolutionarily novel genes expressed in all tumors, which could serve as excellent tumor markers. The new research confirms a theory that the number of oncogenes should correspond to the number of differential cell types, providing a new perspective on cancer prevention and therapy strategies.
A team of Harvard researchers has developed a new method to track rapid evolution in yeast, using DNA 're-barcoding' to follow specific genomes over approximately 1,000 generations. This approach could lead to more accurate predictions for the dominant influenza strains, enabling effective flu vaccine development.
A new study suggests that great apes, including chimpanzees, bonobos, and orangutans, possess a theory of mind, enabling them to understand others' mental states. The team observed that the apes anticipated an agent's actions based on their own experiences with different barriers.
A Rutgers-led study suggests that the breakdown of Himalayan rocks may not be responsible for long-term climate cooling over the past 15 million years. Algae production and calcium carbonate levels decreased in deep-sea sediments during this period, indicating alternative processes may have driven climate change.
Researchers developed a mathematical model to understand intergroup conflicts, finding that acculturation can promote the evolution of conflict. The study suggests that groups may fight for fighting's sake, despite costs, and that cultural evolution can spread conflict.
A team of scientists from Kiel University and Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology applied the neutral metaorganism theory to various model organisms. The study found that the predicted microbial community compositions matched experimental data for many organisms, suggesting a possible lesser role for selection in shaping micr...
Chimpanzees use percussive technique to gain access to meat of inaccessible reptiles, exhibiting intelligent behavior. They plan for future needs, such as hunger, in a surprising display of cognitive flexibility.
Researchers developed a new model to explain the evolutionary origins of empathy, suggesting it lies in cognitive simulation. This approach shifts focus from cooperation to a single cognitive mechanism.
Recent studies lending support to the 'grandmother hypothesis' suggest that post-reproductive lifespan is linked to grandmotherly help, which declines with age. The research found that maternal grandmothers aged 50-75 increased grandchild survival, but paternal grandparents over 75 had a detrimental effect.