Articles tagged with Evolutionary Genetics
MSU researchers developed a new course 'Integrative Biology: From DNA to Populations' featuring Avida-ED, a digital evolution software program. This approach allows students to engage with biological concepts in a familiar and interesting context, resulting in increased understanding of evolution-influenced topics.
A new study suggests that changing how microbes are classified can reveal clearer patterns of similarity between closely related mammals in terms of their gut microbiomes. The researchers propose an alternative approach to classification based on evolutionary history, which helps uncover meaningful units among microbes.
Researchers created flies with ancient genes to understand how mutations drove major evolutionary changes in embryonic development. The study found that two chance mutations were the major causes of a profound change in the animal's developmental processes, resulting in present-day descendants exhibiting new developmental functions.
A newly identified gene, ancV1R, is found to be conserved across fish and mammals, suggesting an ancient origin for pheromone sensing. The discovery opens new avenues of research into the evolution and function of pheromone signaling in vertebrates.
Scientists and legal scholars warn that DARPA's Insect Allies program could be misused for biological warfare due to the ease of dispersing genetically edited viruses into fields. The technology has the potential to rapidly alter crop properties, raising concerns about its peaceful use.
Researchers found that a gene variant, 5-HTTLPR, reduces the risk of depression associated with friendship and relationships stresses when young, but increases the risk following financial stress. This discovery may offer new insights into the evolution of depression.
Researchers found that many genes inherited from Neanderthals interact with modern-day viruses like HIV and influenza A, suggesting they provided protection against ancient RNA viruses. The study suggests a 'poison-antidote' model of gene swapping between species, where Neanderthals bequeathed genetic tools to combat invaders.
Scientists from Shinshu University have analyzed the genetic DNA of Stenopsyche caddisflies, a common Japanese insect delicacy. The study reveals that these insects originated in southern Asia and dispersed globally over millions of years.
Cell biologist Needhi Bhalla's research reveals a complex chromosomal monitoring system that prevents errors during meiosis, a type of cell division. The system involves checkpoints and molecular mechanisms to ensure proper progression of recombination.
A study on scarab beetles found that horns developed from the same head regions, with common genes controlling their formation. The research suggests deep parallels in horn evolution between distant species.
Researchers found a new dynamic between mother's genome and their offspring's genome influencing development and adaptation to ecological conditions. Genetic mismatches can hinder adaptation in some species.
A study on Asian ladybird beetles reveals a single gene, pannier, that regulates diverse color patterns. The gene's expression affects black and red pigmentation in the forewing, driving morphological evolution.
Researchers have confirmed that genome duplication drives the evolution of polyploid plant species, such as Arabidopsis kamchatica. The study found that the double genome allows for advantageous genetic mutations and increased adaptability to environmental conditions.
A new USC Dornsife study finds that genes can help an organism survive, rather than just being a negative trait associated with aging. This challenges the long-held hypothesis of 'antagonistic pleiotropy', which suggests that genes that enhance reproduction contribute to aging.
Researchers discovered that mice lacking a key gene, CMAH, can run stronger and longer with less fatigue. This gene loss may have contributed to humanity's ability to run long distances relatively tirelessly.
A study led by Prof. Erich Bornberg-Bauer revealed that de novo genes constantly emerge in non-coding DNA regions and can occasionally acquire functions in organisms over longer periods of time.
A UTA doctoral student has received a Graduate Research Fellowship Program grant to fund her research on genetic variation in whiptail lizards and its impact on the microbiome. The award will support her three-year research project using both sexually and asexually reproducing species living in sympatry.
Researchers have identified key genetic changes that occur during colorectal cancer development, including 'chromosomal catastrophes' that lead to tumour growth and diversity
Researchers at University of Colorado Boulder develop Controlled Hindrance of Adaptation of OrganismS (CHAOS) approach to disrupt gene expressions in bacteria, effectively stunting their ability to evolve defenses. The method offers a sustainable long-term solution to combat antibiotic-resistant superbugs that infect nearly 2 million p...
Researchers are studying the genetic basis of carnivorous plant evolution, seeking to understand how similar traits emerge in different orders. Dr. Kenji Fukushima's work aims to develop new molecular tools for analyzing specific genes in carnivorous plants.
Scott Juntti, UMD professor, develops genomic tools for testing genes' impact on organism traits in cichlid fish. The goal is to predict an organism's phenotype by understanding the sets of rules that govern genetic variation.
Research by an international team from the University of Vienna reveals that remote islands have higher numbers of non-native species, which can lead to extinction events and threaten unique island species. The study found that isolation from the mainland increases the number of non-native species, while native species decline.
A newly-discovered fossil turtle, Eorhynchochelys sinensis, lived 228 million years ago with a beak but no shell. This find sheds light on the evolution of turtles and challenges traditional theories, supporting mosaic evolution and shedding new light on turtle ancestry.
New research reveals that female mosquitoes rapidly evolve more selective mating behavior when faced with existential threats from other invasive mosquito species. This adaptation is driven by genetic changes in specific gene regions and enables them to avoid sterility caused by interbreeding with male males of a different species.
A study found that long, noncoding stretches of DNA in a calcium transport gene may predispose individuals to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. These 'hidden variants' could help identify patients at risk and tailor treatments.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have developed a statistical method to analyze millions of RNA structures, enabling them to predict functional interactions. This breakthrough aims to prevent toxic relationships between molecules that lead to disease, and potentially improve human health.
Researchers found that periwinkles have developed a genetic toolkit with specific genes clustered on three chromosomes to help them adapt to environments threatened by crabs and waves. This rapid adaptation is thought to have occurred within 5,000 generations, enabling the snails to survive in rapidly changing coastal habitats.
Researchers found that modern pygmy genomes showed no evidence of gene flow from the extinct 'hobbit' species, contradicting previous expectations. However, they did find genetic variants associated with short stature and dietary adaptations in genes involved in fatty acid metabolism.
The study of Flores pygmy humans shows they have Neanderthal and Denisovan ancestry, but no direct link to Homo floresiensis. The short-statured phenotype is a result of recent polygenic selection on standing genetic variation.
Rice University's Luay Nakhleh has received $1.5 million in grants from the NSF to develop algorithms that can infer evolutionary histories of tumor cells, helping researchers understand why some cancer cells spread and mutate differently.
A team of researchers has discovered a new species of Placozoa, a phylum of simple multicellular animals, by analyzing its genetic makeup. The study, published in PLOS Biology, used taxogenomics to describe the new species, which was previously thought to be a single species, Trichoplax adhaerens.
Researchers identified 27 unique amino acid replacements in 27 different proteins of hot-spring snakes, which were associated with functions like immunity and DNA repair. These mutations enable the snakes to thrive under extreme conditions such as intense radiation and hypoxia.
A new species of round fungus beetle was discovered in Malaysian Borneo with remarkably long genitalia. The species was named after actress and biologist Isabella Rossellini due to its unique reproductive characteristics, showcasing an evolutionary 'sexual arms race' between males and females.
Researchers found that different types of efflux pump proteins, key to antibiotic resistance, may not have evolved from a common ancestor. Instead, they may have developed independently through convergent evolution, offering new insights into fighting drug-resistant superbugs.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that unisexual salamanders rarely borrow DNA from other species, despite persisting for millions of years. The study suggests that their unique reproductive strategy may be linked to environmental changes or specific interactions with other species.
A study found that bats have preserved a viral gene from an ancient Ebola-like virus for millions of years. The VP35 gene helps regulate the immune system and may play a role in preventing disease in bats.
A study found that variations of a single gene in pigeons are associated with diverse feather patterns and unexpected links to human vision defects. The gene, Norrie Disease Protein, is well-studied in humans but has different effects on pigs, causing only pigmentation changes.
A new AI framework, ExPecto, predicts the effects of genetic mutations in the 'dark matter' regions of the human genome. The framework pinpointed mutations potentially responsible for increasing the risk of several immune-related diseases, including chronic hepatitis B virus infection and Crohn's disease.
Scientists discovered that polyps of the marine hydrozoan Ectopleura larynx allow genetically unrelated individuals to fuse their bodies and share skin and stomachs. This unique behavior provides survival advantages in a competitive ocean environment.
Researchers found that evolutionary changes occur deep in the fly brain, in a small cluster of neurons controlling mating behavior. The study overturned long-held beliefs about how evolution ensures animals perpetuate their species.
Human ancestors were scattered across Africa, with diverse habitats and shifting environmental boundaries leading to a staggering diversity of human forms. The mixing of these populations ultimately shaped our species.
Researchers decipher how plants evolve recognition systems to prevent self-fertilization, leading to genetic diversity in nature. The study found that new mating types can evolve through different pathways and are influenced by population demographics and mutation rates.
Researchers used genetic analysis to sort bat species, revealing two new species in Kenya. The findings have implications for conservation and farming efforts.
A study published in BMC Evolutionary Biology found that Bale monkeys living in different habitats have distinct mitochondrial DNA profiles. The researchers discovered that populations from fragmented forests were more closely related to vervet and grivet monkeys than those from continuous forests, suggesting hybridization had occurred.
UCSF researchers identified key genetic changes that transform benign moles into malignant melanoma, including mutations in DNA regulatory genes. They used CRISPR to recreate the steps of melanoma evolution in lab cells, revealing new biomarkers and potential targeted therapies.
A recent study reveals that the fastest rates of species formation occur at high latitudes and in cold ocean waters, contradicting the long-held assumption that tropical environments are evolutionary hot spots. The research found that cool-water and polar ocean fishes formed new species twice as fast as average tropical fish.
The study uses DNA sequence data to analyze the evolution of testes in mammals, finding that African species lack the testicular descent process due to non-functional genes. This suggests that the testicular descent process was ancestral and lost in these species.
The study analyzed 71 placental mammalian species and found that the genes RXFP2 and INSL3 were either lost or nonfunctional in four Afrotherian species, indicating a more recent origin of testicular retention. This suggests that molecular vestiges can be used to reconstruct evolutionary changes in body parts.
A study of nearly 4,000 extremely old Italians found that mortality rates plateau after 105 years old, with people between 105-109 having a 50/50 chance of dying within the year and an expected further life span of 1.5 years. The findings challenge previous research on a final cut-off point for human lifespan.
A recent study has identified 246 candidate genes involved in dog domestication, which influence brain function, development, and behavior. The research suggests that changes in these genes may have contributed to the evolution of dogs from wolves, making them more active during the day rather than at night.
A fossil of a banana-eating bird ancestor was found in North America, dating back 52 million years. The discovery suggests these birds once thrived outside the tropics, with long legs indicating they may have been ground-dwelling.
Researchers developed a new genetic engineering technique to improve an enzyme's ability to break down biomass. The EASy method enables accelerated evolution of desirable traits in microorganisms, leading to more efficient conversion of lignin into fuels and plastics.
Researchers found that expanding gene-regulatory modules can give rise to new traits, such as the enlarged snout in African cichlid fishes. The study implicated key genetic pathways, including the Tgfβ-Scx pathway and Adam12 protein.
A new study reveals that RNA changes played a crucial role in the domestication of sunflowers, allowing for rapid evolutionary transformation over 5,000 years. The researchers identified key genes and regulatory mechanisms involved in alternative splicing, which created useful efficiencies but also introduced variation.
A new study led by the NIH identified roles for over two dozen genes shared with humans, many linked to human eye disorders, in causing cavefish blindness. Epigenetic regulation mechanisms have been found to play a key role in this process.
A study analyzing ancient Icelandic genomes of 25 individuals from the island's colonization period (870-930) found that present-day Icelanders have a 70% Norwegian genetic fingerprint. The analysis also revealed a gender bias in the population, with men of Scandinavian origin having more offspring than women of Celtic origin.
A team of researchers has developed a model that simulates protein evolution, revealing how evolving protein components can give rise to dynamic and efficient molecular machines. The model shows that flexibility allows proteins to bind effectively to other molecules.
Cavefish have higher levels of DNA methyltransferase DNMT3B in developing eyes, leading to epigenetic suppression of eye development genes. This process differs from genetic mutations, which are permanent changes in the DNA code.
A genetic algorithm developed by Spanish researchers accurately predicted the vertical growth of Tokyo's Minato Ward, predicting the number and locations of future skyscrapers. The study suggests that evolutionary computation can identify hidden patterns in urban systems and predict possible city evolution scenarios.
Mongooses learn lifelong habits from escort animals rather than their genetic parents, according to University of Exeter researchers. This cultural inheritance helps maintain diversity within groups, contradicting expectations that it would lead to uniformity.