Articles tagged with Evolutionary Genetics
Researchers at LMU Munich have sequenced mitochondrial DNA from museum specimens of rare deer species, refining the evolutionary history of cervids. The study identifies novel relationships among species, including confirmation of a second muntjac species in Borneo and polyphyletic genera in New World deer.
Scientists have successfully decoded the DNA of Okinawa mozuku, a valuable seaweed species with unique properties. The study provides a platform for future research on its cultivation, growth, and health benefits, aiming to restore production levels and promote sustainable farming practices.
Researchers found that Miconia affinis maintains high genetic diversity and facilitates gene flow between forest fragments. The study suggests that this species' colonization capacity promotes ecosystem recovery despite human-altered landscapes.
Researchers found that Namibian desert elephants share the same DNA as African savanna elephants due to their high learning capacity and long-distance migrations. They possess unique survival skills, including sand-wetting and water conservation techniques.
Reef fish are adapting to higher CO2 levels by changing their circadian rhythms, a key finding from genomic research. The study found that fish can adjust their internal clocks to compensate for elevated night-time CO2, allowing them to survive in altered environments.
Researchers found that eastern and red wolves are not evolutionarily distinct species but a hybrid of gray wolf and coyote ancestry. The study concludes that the ESA should protect hybrid species due to common interbreeding in the wild, which may not be harmful.
A DNA study of New Zealand's acanthisittid wrens has provided evidence that the country was not completely submerged under the ocean around 21 to 25 million years ago. The research found divergences among the species, suggesting they have been resident in New Zealand for over 25 million years.
A new study reveals that genetic factors play a crucial role in shaping the brain's cortical pattern, with close relationships between genetic variants across different regions. The findings suggest potential functional relationships among cortical brain regions, shedding light on the complex mechanisms underlying brain development.
A four-year NSF grant supports Elizabeth Ostrowski's research on the evolution of social cooperation in Dicty amoebae. The study explores how organisms can work together despite individual benefits from cooperation, and how this cooperation is influenced by evolutionary pressures.
A novel picornavirus has been found to be a key suspect in the development of Avian Keratin Disorder, a debilitating condition causing beak overgrowth and impairing feeding and preening behaviors. The discovery provides a critical lead in understanding the emergence of this disease in wild bird populations worldwide.
A recent study published in Science found that early farming populations had deep genetic differences, indicating distinct ancestries. The research identified similarities between Neolithic farmer's DNA and living people from southern Asia, suggesting a federal origin of farming.
A new study shows that the planktonic organism Oikopleura dioica has lost most of its genes related to retinoic acid metabolism, a vital molecule for vertebrate physiology and embryonic development. This finding challenges the idea that evolution always requires more complexity or number of genes in living beings.
University of California, Berkeley paleontologists discover inherited dental features in primates that shed light on a mysterious increase in monkey species during climate change 8 million years ago. The traits will help track genes controlling tooth development and aid scientists in regrowing teeth.
Researchers discovered a gene that enables plants to harness energy from the far-red-light spectrum, potentially increasing plant productivity. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more efficient crop plants and even artificial photosynthesis as an alternative energy source.
Early life forms on Earth are likely to have mutated and evolved at much higher rates than they do today, thanks to a hotter planet billions of years ago. The rate of spontaneous DNA mutation was at least 4,000 times higher than it is now, according to a new analysis from the University of North Carolina.
New research suggests mammals evolved and diversified after the extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago, contradicting a long-held scientific theory. Fossil records support this finding, which was achieved by recalibrating DNA evolution rates using reliable fossil data.
Researchers found conserved microRNAs involved in regulating blastema formation across three evolutionarily distant species, including salamander and ray-finned fish. The study suggests a potential common regulatory process for limb regeneration.
Researchers found placental mammals evolved at a constant rate before the extinction event but accelerated rapidly after, resulting in diverse modern groups like bats and cats. The team analyzed fossils from the Cretaceous to present day, finding a massive spike in evolution rates after dinosaur extinction.
A recent study found that balancing selection can increase the frequency of harmful mutations in non-HLA genes within the MHC region. This mechanism may contribute to the prevalence of heritable diseases. The research team used DNA sequencing data from 6,500 individuals to test this hypothesis.
Researchers create innovative framework to examine social behavior in various species, shedding light on the role of genetic polymorphism in shaping individual traits. The study reveals that inherited genetic tendencies can accurately predict social relationships and behaviors.
Researchers at UT Austin developed an enzyme that accurately proofreads RNA for the first time, increasing precision in genetic research and potentially improving medicine. The new discovery may enhance diagnoses made based on genomic information, leading to more accurate medical outcomes.
A recent study by Maria Chikina and Nathan Clark found that during three major independent evolutionary events, mammals returned to the sea, involving many genetic trade-offs. The researchers identified hundreds of genes affected, including those involved in sensory systems, muscle function, skin, and metabolism.
A University of Kansas researcher is studying the co-evolution of flowers with pollinators like bees and hummingbirds, exploring how natural selection has enabled flowers to shift strategies from bee-pollination to hummingbird pollination. She aims to discover the extent to which evolutionary change is predictable.
A team of researchers has pinpointed the genetics behind a select group of garter snakes' ability to eat poisonous newts, revealing an evolutionary 'building blocks' pattern. The study found that resistant muscle evolved after resistant nerves, with the ancestors of garter snakes gaining toxin-resistant nerves almost 40 million years ago.
Non-African humans inherited marginally lower fitness due to Neanderthal inheritance, with estimated 40% reduction in reproductively fit individuals. The study suggests that these harmful gene variants continue to reduce the fitness of some populations today.
A study by North Carolina State University researchers reveals that zebrafish bred for boldness display sleeker bodies and faster swimming abilities compared to those bred for shyness. The findings suggest a link between personality traits, body shape, and locomotion, challenging the idea of independent animal traits.
Researchers have located a gene called cortex that influences the brilliant patterning of <i>Heliconius</i> butterfly wings and is also associated with the evolution of 'sooty' wings in peppered moths. The discovery provides insights into the mechanisms behind wing pattern variation and diversity in butterflies and moths.
A genetic gene known as cortex enables butterflies to mimic each other's bright patterns, while causing British moths to turn black amidst pollution. Researchers found the same gene responsible for color evolution in both butterflies and moths.
Researchers Richard Benton and Ben Lehner received the 2016 EMBO Gold Medal for their groundbreaking work on insect olfaction and developmental biology. They discovered novel genes in odorant receptors, shedding light on the evolution of scent perception, and revealed stochastic variances in gene expression driving phenotypic diversity.
The study reveals dozens of genes that allow corals to coordinate their response to environmental changes and explains the origin of hard skeleton-forming genes. The database will help researchers understand which coral species may survive or succumb to climate change.
A team of scientists analyzed multiple studies on three well-known viral families to understand how viruses evolve and increase their genetic diversity. They found that segmented RNA viruses can replicate with a single parental line, but reassortment between viruses is limited by physical and molecular constraints.
Researchers have identified the genes responsible for producing the red pigment in bird species, linking it to detoxification processes and suggesting a link between mate quality and genetic fitness. The discovery provides new insights into the evolution and ecology of red coloration in birds.
A UCL-led study identifies five genes controlling nose and chin shape, providing new insights into human face evolution and potential forensics applications. The study analyzed over 6,000 individuals with varied ancestry and found specific genes influencing facial features.
Fuentes builds on the extended evolutionary synthesis, arguing that evolution is a complex mix of biology, ecology, behaviors, chemistry, and history. Anthropologists can combine these approaches for a more nuanced understanding of humanity.
A study on the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus found that genetic links between traits favoring one sex may explain same-sex sexual behavior (SSB), with increased SSB linked to improved reproductive performance in siblings of the opposite sex.
Researchers have mapped the 'fitness landscape' of a jellyfish gene, showing how multiple mutations interact to affect protein function and fluorescence levels. The study provides insights into how genetic changes combine to influence traits and diseases.
The carrot genome study sheds light on its domestication history and reveals new insights into the accumulation of carotenoids. Researchers found a new gene responsible for this process, which was likely inadvertently selected for by early growers.
New research from the University of Oxford used bacteria to show that acquiring duplicate copies of genes can provide a template for developing new traits. Gene duplication has been proposed as playing a key role in innovation since the 1970s, but these findings add important empirical evidence to support this theory.
A recent study published in Nature Communications found a single gene, retinoblastoma (RB), to be crucial for the evolution of multicellularity. The researchers discovered that RB is a tumor suppressor and plays a fundamental role in regulating cell cycles, making it easier to evolve multicellular life.
A recent study analyzed genome-wide data from 51 ancient Eurasians, providing insights into the genetic history of modern humans in Eurasia before agriculture began. The findings indicate a decrease in Neandertal ancestry and suggest natural selection against certain variants.
Researchers have identified a key action of a watershed gene crucial to bone formation and the evolution of vertebrates. The Sp7 gene emerged about 400 million years ago, expanding life diversity and programming bone-secreting cells.
Researchers exposed small worms to artificial climate change, finding that a half-degree warmer soil caused rapid genome changes. The study provides insight into evolution's ability to adapt to climate change, suggesting it may be more resilient than previously thought.
Scientists have produced proto-nucleotides resembling RNA's nucleobases through simple laboratory reactions, advancing understanding of life's origins. The discovery has implications for the probability of life existing elsewhere in the universe.
A new DNA analysis suggests that North American mammoths interbred more frequently than previously thought, blurring the lines between species. The study found that woolly and Columbian mammoths could produce fertile offspring, contradicting historical notions of separate species.
A specific gene, HMGA2, has been identified as the key to the evolution of smaller beaks in medium ground finches in response to a drought-induced food shortage. The researchers found that the gene comes in two forms, with one dominant in birds with small beaks and the other in those with large beaks.
Researchers from the University of Adelaide used ancient DNA to study the evolution of giant bears in both North and South America. The study found that these bears belonged to a distinct subfamily (Tremarctinae) and had independently evolved from small herbivorous bears.
Researchers found striking similarities between the genetic mechanism used in human limb development and that of skate embryos' gill arches. The study suggests that limbs may have evolved from sharks' gills via a critical gene called Sonic hedgehog, supporting a century-old theory.
A new study by J. Andrew Gillis at the MBL Whitman Center found striking similarities between the genetic mechanism used to pattern gill arch appendages and human limbs.
New research suggests that human brain size and body size are genetically linked, with increased brain size leading to a correlated response in body size. This phenomenon played a significant role in the evolution of larger brains and bodies in humans.
A recent study analyzing 40 Zika virus strains identifies significant changes in amino acid and nucleotide sequences, diverging between Asian and African lineages. The data suggests the strains evolved from a common ancestor, with human isolates more closely related to the French Polynesia/2013 strain.
A team of researchers has created the first comprehensive in vivo fitness landscape of a gene, which provides a way to visualize and predict evolution. The findings show that about 1 percent of point mutations are beneficial to an organism, while 42 percent are harmful, and two harmful mutations interacting can lead to more harm.
Researchers discover a 'green beard' system in fungi to decide on compatibility and actively seek out favorable cells. This mechanism is necessary and sufficient to determine 'self' identity, enabling cooperation between non-genealogical relatives.
Scientists have mapped thousands of genetic mutations in yeast to understand their impact on cell survival. The study found that different combinations of mutations can influence survival and revealed a new technique for predicting the shapes of molecules encoded in our genes.
Researchers analyzed 16 ant species to understand queen-worker differences, finding conserved gene sets associated with traits like queen numbers and worker sterility. This study provides insight into the evolution of gene expression across ant species.
Researchers found that plants can only withstand a limited number of genetic changes before population collapse and extinction. The study challenges common thinking on plant adaptability and has significant implications for agriculture and horticulture in the face of rapid climate change.
Researchers analyzed a complete Neanderthal Y chromosome, revealing differences with modern human Y chromosomes that may have discouraged interbreeding. The findings suggest that genetic incompatibilities, such as those affecting male-specific antigens, played a role in the divergence of humans and Neanderthals.
A new approach detects shifts in genetic diversity when crops hybridize with wild plants, highlighting the risk of losing rare alleles and altering evolutionary trajectories. This method could improve conservation efforts by identifying areas where crop gene escape is most prevalent.
A new species of fruit fly, Drosophila yakuba, has evolved to consume yeast growing on the toxic noni fruit. Genetic analysis revealed that this adaptation occurred around 30,000 years ago, providing a unique opportunity to study evolutionary changes and genetic adaptations in response to environmental pressures.
A vegetarian diet may have permanently shaped the human genome, favoring a mutation that regulates fatty acid production. This mutation is more frequent in Indian populations with primarily plant-based diets compared to traditional American meat-eaters.
Virginia Tech researchers have sequenced the Y chromosome of malaria-spreading mosquitoes, a key genetic driver of sex-determination and male fertility. The findings will help develop more effective mosquito control strategies by creating sterile males or reducing female populations.