Articles tagged with Evolutionary Genetics
A new study proposes that SARS-CoV-2's emergence was facilitated by genetic recombination among bat and pangolin coronaviruses. The virus' receptor binding motif was introduced through recombination with pangolin coronaviruses.
The study reveals strong genetic resemblance among Bronze Age Southern Levant populations, including a significant Caucasus/Zagros component and Chalcolithic Zagros ancestry. The movement of people from the northeast into the region started as early as 4,500 years ago and continued throughout the Bronze Age.
The vertebrate ear's unique structure and development have puzzled scientists. A new study proposes that this complexity increased the
A genome-wide analysis has identified 19 new genetic risk factors for problematic alcohol use and confirmed 10 previously known factors. The study also found shared genetic associations with psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety.
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.
Researchers analyzed ancient Italian DNA, revealing a complex mosaic of ancestry components and genetic peculiarities shaped by environmental interactions. These adaptations contribute to reducing disease risk, favoring longer lifespan in some cases.
A study published in BMC Biology suggests that northern and southern Italian populations diverged genetically as early as 19,000-12,000 years ago. The research found distinct genetic variants between individuals from different regions, with adaptations to climate-specific genes.
Scientists have identified two genes responsible for a melanoma that develops near the tails of male highland-sheepshead hybrids. These findings provide insight into the genetic causes of hybrid dysfunction and its effects on disease, highlighting the importance of understanding gene interactions in different species.
A team of researchers identified a previously unknown genetic variant in the FBN1 gene that is strongly associated with lower height in Peruvians and Native Americans. The variant, E1297G, was found exclusively in individuals of Native American ancestry and showed an average effect of 2.2 centimeters reduction in height.
Researchers have discovered a gene responsible for virgin births in Cape honey bees, allowing workers to lay female eggs without sex. This discovery has significant implications for understanding evolutionary transitions and potentially controlling asexual reproduction.
A new study suggests that butterfly and moth eyespots likely evolved independently, with distinct developmental pathways.
The human genome's complexity hinders personalized medicine by having an immense ability to change and cope with issues, context matters in our genome. Researchers conclude that precision medicine is crucial but must consider the full genomic blueprint including 'unnecessary' elements.
Researchers found that genetic variants at Tbx5 and Pitx1 contribute to foot feathering in both chickens and pigeons. A 17,000 base-pair long deletion near Pitx1 removes the same exact region in both species, indicating similar mutations and molecular pathways.
Researchers found that regulatory mutations in TBX5 and PITX1 genes cause foot feathering in both domesticated breeds of chickens and pigeons. This study demonstrates a remarkable convergence in the evolution of this trait across species, suggesting that favored mutations have been spread through strong phenotypic selection.
A comprehensive comparative study suggests that early mutation rates were much higher and gene jumping occurred earlier than thought, making a simple interpretation of the 'family tree' of life misleading. However, it does show that early evolution was wildly different from present-day organisms.
A new children's book introduces genetics to youngsters of primary school age through a rhyming narrative, explaining DNA and the role of nature and nurture in making each person unique. The book aims to engage young children with science, building on research that shows teaching genetics before evolution improves pupil understanding.
A new study analyzes thousands of phylogenetic trees to shed light on the nature of the earliest living organisms. It suggests that early mutation rates were much higher than at present, leading to a complex 'family tree' of life. The research provides insight into how quickly early organisms may have evolved billions of years ago.
Scientists used chromosomes to study early events in vertebrate evolution, including the hybridization between two species of primitive fish. They found evidence of genome duplication and identified 17 ancient chromosomal units that were shared among jawed vertebrates.
A new formula built with mathematical modeling can accurately reconstruct the diversification history of taxa, even when fossils are rare or extinct, say Oregon and British Columbia researchers.
Researchers discovered evidence of milk processing in ancient pottery from east Africa, confirming the story that bones have been telling us about pastoralist societies' way of life. The findings suggest that herders who specialized in cattle were drinking milk and survived better due to lactase persistence.
Researchers have created an algorithm that can visualize the evolution of genetic mutations, revealing patterns in how proteins change over time. The tool, called minimum epistasis interpolation, helps scientists understand how specific mutations combine to affect protein function.
A team of scientists discovered that genetic alterations in the immune system of pipefishes and seahorses allow them to tolerate paternal genetic information and develop their offspring. The study found that genes involved in female mammalian pregnancy are also activated in male pregnancy, suggesting similar molecular mechanisms.
Researchers found a gene influencing structural color in butterflies, which produces intricate nanostructures with optical properties. The study also reveals that most butterfly patterns have a mix of pigment color and structural color, with the latter having a stronger impact on wing color.
Researchers found that regulatory switches involved in knee development also play a role in osteoarthritis, a partially heritable disease affecting 250 million people worldwide. The study suggests that subtle modifications in the knee's shape may increase risk of developing osteoarthritis over time.
Researchers explore using CRISPR in nongenetic model plants, overcoming technical obstacles with adapted transformation systems. Polyploidy studies reveal the biological underpinnings of genetic consequences.
Researchers have made significant progress in gene editing tools for ocean microbes, enabling functional studies of thousands of new genes. This breakthrough has the potential to improve our understanding of life's origins, biotechnology, medicine, and pharmacology.
A new study proposes a method to extend polygenic scores for individuals with multiple ancestral origins, improving personalized medicine for recently admixed populations. The approach combines knowledge from homogeneous populations to create a model suitable for diverse genetic backgrounds.
Researchers found that evolution can select for loner behavior in slime molds, which could provide an ecological insurance plan to ensure the survival of collective behavior. The study suggests that having some individuals stay out of the swarm may be part of the strategy of this organism.
Researchers discovered a temperature-sensing nerve cell that transmits signals activating or inhibiting receiving nerve cells, explaining how worms respond to good or bad temperatures. Genetic studies identified three conserved genes involved in this response, suggesting a similar mechanism may exist in higher organisms.
A new study by Texas A&M University biologist Dr. Charles Criscione and collaborators reveals that family ties play a crucial role in the survival of parasitic organisms. Brain flukes sacrifice themselves to ensure the survival of their relatives, who co-infect the same ant's abdomen.
Studies have shown that turtle ant soldiers exhibit a four-fold difference in head shapes, adapted to different tunnel sizes. The research suggests that evolution can be dynamic and reversible, with some species evolving back into more generalist stages.
Researchers at IST Austria find that bacteria can copy genes as an adaptive strategy, creating genetic diversity and tuning gene expression levels. This mechanism allows for quick adaptation on ecological timescales, potentially impacting antibiotic resistance.
Researchers analyzed 6,267 individuals to infer African group contributions to North-, South-American and Caribbean populations, finding enrichment of West-African ancestry in northern latitudes and South/East African ancestry in southern South-America.
Researchers developed a programming tool to analyze genome data and build accurate models of demographic history for plants, animals, and people. The software predicts population history with high likelihood, including mass extinctions, migrations, and growth periods.
A study on the parasitic lancet fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum found that genetically identical brain flukes are often present in both ant brains and abdomens, suggesting kin selection plays a key role in its evolution. This manipulation of host behavior supports an altruistic strategy, where clonemates are cotransmitted into ants.
A new ancient DNA study reconstructs the genetic history of Mediterranean islands, showing complex patterns of immigration and trade. The research reveals distinct ancestry profiles for Sicily, Sardinia and the Balearic Islands, tracing migration routes from Africa, Asia and Europe.
A team of scientists created an algorithm to analyze genetic information and draw conclusions about the evolutionary history of species with whole-genome duplications. The program can identify when duplication occurred, how it affected the population, and make predictions about the evolutionary path of a species.
Researchers have decoded a genetic map for maize, revealing how tropical varieties can be adapted to temperate climates. The study aims to improve the crop's resistance to emerging diseases and drought, ensuring global food security.
A new study from the University of Michigan presents the first genetic evidence of resistance in some bats to white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease that has decimated some North American bat populations. Genetic differences were found in genes associated with regulating arousal from hibernation and breakdown of fats.
The Himalayan wolf has been found to be a genetically distinct species adapted to harsh high-altitude environments, posing key threats from human activities such as livestock herding and illegal wildlife trade. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect these ecosystems and the wolves' populations.
Researchers found that around one-third of orphan genes result from divergence, suggesting de novo emergence is more frequent than thought. Emerging genes carry potential to be important, as artificially expressed sequences showed increased growth rates in baker's yeast cells.
Researchers question the idea that human language arose instantaneously through a single gene mutation, proposing instead a gradual evolution through accumulation of smaller biological changes. They argue that the cognitive operation Merge, key to human language, evolved gradually over time.
Researchers identified germline mutations in the MBD4 gene as a driver of somatic mutations in cancer genomes, accelerating the clock-like mutational process. This discovery has significant implications for understanding cancer development and may lead to personalized screening and early intervention strategies.
Researchers have identified five regions of the genome that show signs of selection for glyphosate resistance in morning glory, suggesting multiple ways the plant may evolve resistance. The study found evidence for both parallel and nonparallel genetic changes associated with glyphosate resistance.
Researchers at the University of California - San Diego developed a new type of cancer model using genetically engineered human pluripotent stem cells. The model replicates the intra-tumor heterogeneity observed in patients and enables the study of tumor evolution, making it a potential platform for drug discovery.
A recent study highlights breakthroughs in understanding the association of specific genes with disorders, driving medical innovation and personalized health. Researchers emphasize the need for joint efforts between industry and academia to establish comprehensive inventories of genotype-phenotype relationships.
Researchers evolved an RNA polymerase ribozyme that can synthesize its own ancestor, a class I ligase enzyme, in three separate RNA strands. However, the synthesized ligases were often free from function-disabling mutations and exhibited poor fidelity of synthesis.
Sperm cells activate 90% of their genes, a pattern seen in other species, to repair DNA before passing it to the next generation. This process may influence the evolution of specific genes, with unexpressed genes containing fewer DNA code errors.
Researchers examined sibling rivalry and cooperation in burying beetles, finding that full parental care leads to competition while no parental care fosters cooperation. The study suggests a link between parental care and the evolution of these behaviors.
A team of scientists has developed a method to rapidly evolve endogenous genes in plants, enabling accelerated breeding via molecular design. The technology, called STEME, uses CRISPR-like enzymes to introduce precise mutations into plant genes, leading to improved agronomic traits.
A study in Nature Communications reveals that the unique perfume chemistry of two species of orchid bees, Euglossa viridissima and Euglossa dilemma, is driven by a single olfactory receptor gene. The researchers found that the two species can be distinguished by their distinct perfume compounds, which are mediated by the OR41 gene.
Researchers analyzed genome-wide genetic data from Japanese pearl oysters to understand their population structure and adaptability. They found that sea surface temperature and oxygen concentration strongly correlated with genetic variation, leading to the discovery of distinct northern and southern populations. The study provides insi...
Cartilaginous fishes, including sharks and rays, have lost the SWS1 and SWS2 opsin genes, leading to cone monochromacy and limited color vision. The study provides detailed insights into their visual pigments, shedding light on evolutionary adaptations to ocean environments.
Researchers at Michigan State University have developed a new method to predict crop traits using plant RNA data from 2-week-old corn seedlings. The approach outperforms traditional genetic marker-based methods and provides additional information not available from DNA alone.
A research team led by Ana Caicedo at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has identified missing links in the tomato's evolution. The study reveals that the modern cultivated tomato is most closely related to a weed-like tomato group found in Mexico, not semi-domesticated intermediate types found in South America.
A new model for the evolution of mating systems focuses on genetically determined behaviors, competition among different behavioral strategies, and social interactions. The conflict between cooperative and competitive behaviors drives evolutionary transitions from one mating system to another.
Dodder parasitic plant avoids genetic evolution arms race with host plants by sending microRNAs that shut down defense genes. The parasite targets conserved host genes and creates multiple versions of its genetic weaponry to ensure effectiveness.
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.
The MASS software program automates geometric morphometric analyses on leaf shape, reducing errors and making it more accessible to novice researchers. By utilizing digitized herbarium specimens, researchers can now analyze larger groups of data and explore new research questions.
Biologists at Texas A&M University have found a genetic link between circadian clock genes and the vitamin A pathway in the brain of Monarch butterflies, enabling them to sense day length changes and trigger seasonal responses.