Articles tagged with Evolutionary Genetics
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.
A new study reveals that malaria parasites sourced from 1940s blood-stained microscope slides originated from Europe, with genetic similarities to modern strains found in the Americas. The research sheds light on the historical spread of Plasmodium vivax malaria and its potential for drug resistance.
A study found that clownfish population persistence depends on high-quality habitats, not shared genes. The researchers identified individual fish and their DNA over five generations to assess reproductive success.
A study published in eLife analyzed ancient genetic data to investigate the decline of great auks. The findings suggest that intense hunting by humans likely caused their rapid extinction, even if the birds weren't already under threat from environmental changes. This highlights the potential for industrial-scale exploitation to drive ...
A study suggests that immunity-related genes from ancient times may be protecting humans today against modern pollutants like cigarette smoke and diesel fumes. Researchers found that certain genes, such as AHR, have been beneficial in responding to airborne toxins for thousands of years.
A team of scientists has found a way for genes to self-repress, reducing potential side effects and allowing novel forms to evolve. This discovery was made using the hairy bittercress plant as a model system.
Researchers found transposable elements and gene expansions related to antioxidants in the rat lungworm parasite, suggesting adaptive evolution. The study also discovered convergent evolution of a key enzyme with flukes, which share similar host requirements.
A study of threespine stickleback in California estuaries reveals evolutionary changes in response to climate-driven habitat alterations. The fish are adapting by reducing the number of bony plates along their sides, allowing for increased maneuverability and energy efficiency.
A team of biologists found at least seven different systems regulating sex determination across closely related species. Genetic analysis revealed three underlying mechanisms driving sexual differentiation in frogs, including the empowerment of a gene that becomes potent for female-specific sex determination.
Research by Colorado State University found the endangered Hawaiian duck, koloa, has high genetic diversity, which enabled conservation efforts on Kauai to be successful. The study's results offer hope for recovering this species and other endangered birds.
A study by Uppsala University researchers found a genetic tug-of-war between males and females that maintains genetic variation. This conflict leads to different gene variants being favored in each sex, contributing to the balance of genetic diversity.
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have identified genes associated with ash dieback resistance in UK trees. The study found that resistance is controlled by multiple genes, opening up new avenues for conservation and potentially breeding more resistant trees.
Scientists cultivate chemical reactions similar to those found on Earth, using a novel strategy to study the origin of life. The system appears to consume its raw materials, forming feedback loops and self-propagating networks.
Researchers used CRISPR gene editing to study butterfly wing patterns, finding that similar patterns evolved through different genetic pathways despite shared environmental pressures. The study reveals the complex interplay between chance and history in shaping evolutionary outcomes.
Researchers have identified a cluster of over 800 genes that evolved to become 'plastic', allowing modern Daphnia to adjust its gene expression in response to phosphorus levels. This adaptability helps mitigate the effects of eutrophication, a major global threat to freshwater environments.
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.
Researchers found that Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) and white-faced plover (Charadrius dealbatus) diverged around half a million years ago due to sea level changes. The study revealed high genetic divergence on sex chromosomes, suggesting sexual selection played a role in species evolution.
Researchers from IBE and Globe Institute rebuilt proteins from a 2-million-year-old fossil, clarifying the evolutionary history of hominids. The technique has shed light on the ancient DNA techniques' limitations, allowing for clearer understanding of human and great ape lineage.
Scientists have successfully linked the extinct giant ape, Gigantopithecus blacki, to its closest living relative, the orangutan. Genetic material from a 2-million-year-old fossil was retrieved using ancient protein sequencing, revealing key insights into human evolution.
Researchers found over a million variants of nucleic acid analogues, suggesting a vast unexplored universe of chemistry relevant to pharmacology and efforts to understand the origins of life. The molecules revealed by this study could be further modified to give hundreds of millions of potential pharmaceutical drug leads.
A study analyzing ancient DNA samples from Rome and adjacent regions found at least two major migrations into the city, with influences from North Africa, Europe, and the Near East. The population's ancestry shifted significantly over time, reflecting Rome's shifting alliances and cultural exchange.
Researchers found that 44% of colonies of the invasive species Didemnum vexillum are formed by gene chimera, which could promote genetic diversity and colonization success. The creation of chimera may also be a mechanism to increase adaptive success in new environments.
The study reveals at least two major migrations into Rome, as well as several smaller but significant population shifts, over the last few thousand years. The genetic data show that immigrants from the Near East, Europe, and North Africa pulled up their roots and moved to Rome, significantly changing its face.
Researchers have identified a small genetic imprint of Palaeolithic inhabitants in North African populations, contradicting the theory that recent migrations erased their genetic traces. The study, published in Current Biology, reveals unique genetic imprints and patterns of continuity versus replacement.
A long-term study of red deer on the Isle of Rum has found that genetic change due to natural selection is contributing to the species' shift towards earlier birth times. This trend is linked to increased reproductive success and the spread of genes associated with breeding earlier.
Researchers have discovered that genetic changes caused by natural selection are contributing to an early shift in the birth dates of wild red deer on Scotland's Isle of Rum. The deer population has been adapting to a warming climate, giving birth three days earlier per decade since the 1980s.
Researchers discovered that human saliva is more watery and contains distinct protein profiles compared to chimpanzees and gorillas. The differences are attributed to varying diets, with human saliva being effective at breaking down starch and fat.
Flipons are sequences that alter DNA conformation, enabling cells to dynamically modify gene expression. This adaptable coding allows cells to change their response to environmental stressors, such as oxidative stress, which promotes Z-DNA flipon formation.
The study reveals that repeated genomic regions expanded during human evolution and associate with differential gene expression in human and chimpanzee brain cell types. Expanded tandem repeats may hold clues to mechanisms driving their expansion and potential roles in human development.
Researchers created the most comprehensive evolutionary tree for green plants using genetic data from 1,147 species. The study found that the transition from aquatic to terrestrial plants was a key event in driving genetic diversity and plant evolution.
Researchers at NYU discovered that a single amino acid change in E. coli's EmrE transporter protein dramatically alters its structure and function, reducing bacteria's resistance to drugs. This finding may have implications for combating antibiotic resistance and drug development.
A comprehensive review of plant reproductive systems provides new perspectives on heterostyly, highlighting recent advances and unresolved questions. The study explores the ecology, evolution, genetics, and genomics of plant reproductive strategies, shedding light on their role in ecological interactions and evolutionary change.
Three moth species, including the peppered moth, rely on the same gene for industrial melanism, a response to environmental change. The mutations likely occurred hundreds of years before the industrial revolution, suggesting adaptive evolution uses similar genetic machinery across deep evolutionary time.
A new meta-analysis found that fabella prevalence varies by region (Asia > Africa), age (older individuals more likely) and sex (men more likely). Fabellae can ossify in people of almost any age, from children to adults over 70.
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.
A new phylogenomic tree reveals the early evolution of stick insects was likely triggered by birds and mammals. The study suggests that their remarkable camouflage abilities evolved as an adaptation to avoid predators, with most old lineages emerging after the dinosaurs became extinct 66 million years ago.
The study presents the first genome sequence of the Florida panther, revealing increased genetic variation in the population. Genetic rescue efforts led to a tripling of genetic diversity in two offspring, alleviating genetic defect threats and promoting population growth from 20-30 to 120-230 individuals.
Researchers at Stanford University identified 25 convergent amino acid changes in 18 genes involved in the development of the cochlear ganglion, a key component in echolocation. This discovery resolves a long-standing debate on whether echolocating bats and whales independently evolved similar genomic changes.
New research finds that climate change may exacerbate species conflicts, driving extinctions, and highlights the importance of landscape connectivity. High movement rates can reduce conflict, emphasizing the need for well-connected landscapes.
Researchers found that natural selection acts on signal-sensing receptors, influencing a worm's decision to stay or enter dauer based on the availability of resources. The study provides evidence that artificial and natural selection work similarly, supporting Darwin's hypothesis.
Researchers argue that viewing past human populations as discrete branches on an evolutionary tree is misleading and instead propose a dynamic changes in connectivity model, which better explains genetic diversity and fossil records. This shift in understanding could address complex questions in human evolutionary studies.
Researchers found elevated selection and increased mutational burdens in wild emmer wheat under global warming, but also more beneficial mutations. Genetic responses vary by temperature and rainfall, with high temperatures associated with lower mutational burden and reduced selection.
Scientists mixed RNA and DNA to study how life began on Earth, finding unstable chimeras that can replicate RNA and DNA. The research suggests a more complex system may have existed before pure RNA and DNA, supporting alternative theories of life's origins.
Researchers have extracted almost complete sets of proteins from ancient dental enamel, allowing scientists to reconstruct molecular evolution beyond the usual DNA preservation limit. This breakthrough enables scientists to study hundreds of species, including humans, and could revolutionize our understanding of the world's evolution.
Researchers extracted genetic info from a 1.77 million-year-old rhino tooth, revealing an almost complete set of proteins and expanding the possibilities of retrieving reliable genetic information from mammal fossils. This breakthrough could solve long-standing mysteries of ancient animal and human biology.
Researchers investigate Mediator complex's function in transcription, shedding light on its conserved role across evolution. The study reveals the complex's involvement in developmental regulation and provides insights into gene expression.
Researchers have discovered that house flies from different regions exhibit minor genetic differences in their Y chromosomes, yet display distinct sex determination mechanisms. The study suggests that natural selection may be responsible for maintaining these variations despite the apparent lack of significant genetic changes.
Bacteria can swap DNA through mechanisms similar to sexual selection in animals, and this genetic mixing may have benefits for cell survival and evolution. Researchers suggest that bacterial transformation, a process where cells release and take up DNA, could be governed by sexual selection.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati discovered that six out of eight extinct Galapagos finch populations had higher genetic diversity than their surviving counterparts. This finding suggests that genetic diversity may not be a reliable predictor of extinction risk for mobile species like finches.
A single DNA variant affects the timing of sensory organ development in fruit flies, explaining size trade-offs between eyes and antennae. The study found a conserved genetic mechanism that could apply to sensory organ size variations across animal kingdoms.
Researchers used gene sequencing to discover new species, casting doubt on previously recognized species. The study aims to rewrite the horseshoe bat family tree, with implications for conservation and disease prevention.
Researchers used fruit flies to study the emergence of new genes in the testes, finding 184 de novo genes that originate from scratch. These genes show complex patterns and are most active during the spermatocyte phase of sperm development, suggesting they play roles in maturing sperm cells.
Researchers found a link between microRNA regulation and the rapid evolution of new species in Nicaraguan crater lakes. They analyzed five species of Midas cichlids and identified specific pairs of microRNAs and genes that interact with each other.
The study analyzed DNA sequencing data from over 3,500 human microbiome samples, revealing nearly 46 million bacterial genes. More than half of these genes were unique to each individual, performing specialized functions and suggesting a key role in microbial evolution.
The study found that ERK was easily switched on in ancient one-celled creatures but carefully restrained as animals evolved. Researchers identified two key changes that likely brought ERK under more control across evolution.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a groundbreaking system for determining gene expression based on machine learning. The new method leverages chromatin biology and molecular features to identify expressible genes with high accuracy, providing a genetic 'Rosetta Stone' for biologists.
Researchers at the University of Bristol discovered the secrets of shoot evolution, revealing a switch that enabled plants to delay reproduction and grow shoots, leaves, and buds around 450 million years ago. This finding has significant implications for understanding plant shape regulation and could inform efforts to engineer crops.
Decades-old frozen fish reveal roots of rapid evolutionary adaptation to human-induced environmental change. Genomic analysis shows that multiple genetic pathways can lead to similar traits, supporting the idea of diverse evolutionary paths.
A new study explores genetic roots of 26 populations from diverse regions and cultures of western South America and Mexico, revealing long-distance connections between speakers of the same language. Genetic analysis also found a distinct ancestry component in Amazonia present at high frequency in populations from Ecuador and Colombia.
A recent study has found that intense fish harvesting can cause rapid evolutionary changes, including changes in growth rates and maturity. The research, published in Science, used genomic data to analyze the effects of fishing on Atlantic silverside populations.