Articles tagged with Evolutionary Genetics
Researchers have discovered that six unnatural nucleic acid polymers can share information with DNA, shedding light on the origins of life. The discovery opens up practical applications for molecular medicine, including new diagnostics and therapeutics.
A study in PLOS Computational Biology reconstructs the complete early evolutionary history of biological carbon-fixation. The researchers identified an early form of carbon fixation that achieved built-in robustness, allowing early life to compensate for internal chemistry issues.
Researchers from the University of Leicester discovered a new mechanism for cooperation in simple organisms, where individuals prefer those who resemble themselves. This 'similarity discrimination' effect can evolve quickly and powerfully in many social encounters, solving the long-standing puzzle of natural selection.
Scientists sequenced the Tasmanian tiger genome, revealing extremely low genetic variability due to geographical isolation. This limited genetic makeup makes the species highly susceptible to diseases and extinction.
A new study using surname data reveals China's population structure has been shaped by both genetic drift and large-scale migration. The research found the highest levels of surname diversity at the Yangtze River basin, which is believed to be due to multiple historical migrations.
A study by Uppsala University researchers found that humans have a unique genetic variant allowing for efficient production of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids from vegetable oils. This adaptation is linked to the development of modern human brain capacity but increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in today's life situation.
The study reveals that changes to both genes and DNA stretches controlling gene activity have driven sticklebacks' adaptation to fresh water. Reused genetic regions, including armor genes and those involved in metabolism and developmental signaling, helped remodel fish into forms better suited to freshwater environments.
A national team of scientists has created the first atlas of the human brain surface based on genetic information, revealing distinct genetic divisions that differ from traditional brain maps. This atlas provides a new tool for understanding how genes influence brain development and function.
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have developed a method to detect proteins associated with longevity, finding that certain proteins evolve in non-random ways in long-lived species. This suggests that these species have optimised pathways for repairing molecular damage, which could help develop anti-ageing interventions.
A study of Afghan DNA reveals a shared genetic heritage with a common ancestral population emerging during the Neolithic revolution. The analysis indicates that early civilizations in the region contributed to the unique genetic diversity of Afghans, shaped by migrations and invasions.
A genetic study has traced cattle back to a small herd of approximately 80 animals domesticated around 10,500 years ago. The research used DNA extracted from ancient cattle bones found in Iranian archaeological sites to determine the origins of domestication.
Researchers found that snakes from different parts of the world have evolved a limited set of genetic mutations to resist deadly neurotoxin TTX, which immobilizes nervous and muscle tissue. This study increases understanding of the genetic basis of adaptation and its limits.
A multinational team of researchers found that house mice (M. m. domesticus) colonized Iceland and Greenland during the Viking age, mirroring human settlement patterns. The analysis of mouse mitochondrial DNA showed no evidence of mice in Newfoundland, suggesting a fleeting presence.
Scientists have found highly similar signaling centers in the acorn worm that direct the formation of its embryonic body plan. This discovery provides unexpected insight into the evolution of vertebrate development and genetics, revealing complex mechanisms for establishing body plans in distant relatives.
A recent study led by Carlos J. Melian found that speeding up evolution through sexual reproduction may actually decrease species diversity. The researchers developed new models to connect the mode of reproduction to biodiversity and found that high genetic variation and evolutionary rates have little effect on general biodiversity.
The study compares the genomes of humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orang-utans, shedding light on human origins and genetic differences. Genetic changes important in evolution were found to be accelerated in genes related to sensory perception, hearing, and brain development.
Researchers found that bright light inhibits the firing of hydras' stinging cells, suggesting a daily rhythmic cue to regulate their behavior. The study links photoreception genes to the mechanism of hydra's harpoon-like cnidocytes, revealing unexpected functions beyond vision.
BGI's single-cell sequencing technology enables researchers to analyze genetic characteristics of essential thrombocythemia and clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The method provides clearer intratumoral genetic pictures and developmental history than previous bulk tissue sequencing, opening new ways for the genetic study of tumors.
A study published in PLOS Genetics reveals that chimpanzees living in close proximity are substantially more genetically different than humans from different continents. This finding highlights the importance of conserving each population independently to address habitat loss and hunting challenges.
Researchers propose that depression and related behaviors arose from genetic variations that helped ancestors fight infections, reducing mortality. This theory links depression to inflammation and physiological responses that were selected for reducing mortality from infection.
Researchers identify genetic differences between two closely related species of Nasonia wasps that yield distinct wing sizes. The discovery sheds light on the evolutionary origins of shape and size diversity in nature and has implications for understanding cell growth and diseases like cancer and diabetes.
A 28-year study found that wild cereal populations are undergoing dramatic changes due to climate change, including earliness in flowering time and reduced genetic diversity. These changes threaten the best genetic resource for crop improvement and may damage food production.
A new study found surprising diversity in a single neural connection in flies, challenging the idea that structure is key to understanding function. The research suggests that genetic drift or natural selection may have shaped these diverse connections, leading to rapid evolution.
A team of Whitehead Institute scientists confirms that the human Y chromosome has not lost a single ancestral gene in the past 25 million years. The study, published in Nature, contradicts the 'rotting Y' theory and suggests the Y chromosome has been genetically stable since its divergence from other chromosomes 25 million years ago.
Researchers have discovered two distinct groups of Sulfolobus islandicus bacteria speciating in a hot spring habitat, despite shared genetic material and gene exchange. The study reveals that these groups are already separate species, with differences spanning only 0.35% across the entire chromosome.
A new paradigm by Dr. Ehud Lamm redefines the genome as a dynamic system that can impact genes themselves, highlighting its physiological aspect. This perspective could provide deeper insight into how organisms develop and evolve.
A team of scientists developed the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel to study complex traits like cold tolerance and starvation resistance. The project reveals hundreds of novel candidate genes, shedding light on the genetic basis of these traits.
A recent large and comprehensive analysis of 50,000 genetic variants has identified four genes associated with type 2 diabetes and six independent disease-associated variants at previously known loci. The study provides valuable insight into the genetic risk for T2D across multiple ethnicities.
A study by Jason Kolbe and colleagues reveals that the 'founder effect' persists even as lizard populations adapt to new environments. The research found that differences caused by the founder effect are retained in lizards with varying limb lengths, suggesting a complex interaction between natural selection and genetic variation.
Researchers found that enhancers, which are meant to be active only in certain muscle types, were occupied by transcription factors from other tissues. This discovery reveals a new model for how enhancers function and provides insights into the developmental history of cells.
Researchers found that genetic and morphological traits were influenced by both natural selection and founder effects in castaway lizards. The study shows how these mechanisms interact with each other, resulting in differences between populations adapting to new environments.
A study by Max Planck scientists found that available scientific information on genetically modified insect releases is highly restricted. They call for clear and accurate descriptions to be widely circulated before releases, particularly if mosquito species are involved.
A recent study using 30,000-year-old bison bones discovered in Canadian permafrost provides clues on animal adaptation to environmental changes. Researchers measured epigenetic modifications in extinct animals and populations, showing that it is possible to accurately measure these changes in ancient DNA.
Researchers found that stressful conditions increase chromosomal instability in yeast, allowing cells to rapidly adapt and acquire diverse aneuploid chromosome numbers. This stress-induced genetic variation enables yeast cells to thrive in environments with harsh conditions.
Researchers discovered a newly acquired trait in some HIV-related viruses that allows them to degrade primate SAMHD1 proteins. The ability emerged first in Vpr proteins before the emergence of Vpx proteins.
A University of Pennsylvania team has made significant inroads into understanding how Ethiopian populations adapt to high-altitude environments. Their genome-wide study reveals that different genetic mutations, known as convergent evolution, are responsible for their unique physiological traits.
A University of Florida study suggests that genome evolution in hybrid plants may follow predictable patterns, known as 'rules', which determine gene loss. This could lead to the creation of higher and more stable yields in crops like wheat, corn, and apples.
Researchers found that grass smut fungi can form hybrids with other species, which could lead to new plant diseases and accelerated evolution. The discovery was made possible by the collaboration of RUB Geobotany Laboratory and Heinrich Heine Universität in Düsseldorf.
A team of Yale researchers found genetic signatures of the extinct species Chelonoidis elephantopus in over 1600 tortoises, suggesting direct descendants may still exist. The discovery could allow for the resuscitation of the species through intensive breeding of hybrids.
Researchers have found genetic evidence suggesting that the Galapagos giant tortoise species Chelonoidis elephantopus may still exist in the wild, despite being thought extinct for over 150 years. The discovery was made by tracking the DNA of hybrid offspring between this species and another, C. becki, on Isabela Island.
Researchers investigated alternative nucleic acids that differ slightly from DNA and RNA, aiming to uncover a simpler genetic molecule. TNA, with its threose sugar backbone, showed promise as an early genetic carrier, folding into complex shapes that bind to targets with high affinity and specificity.
Researchers at Uppsala University have discovered a genetic mechanism underlying the evolution of fibromelanosis in black chickens. The study highlights the role of genomic rearrangements in driving rapid evolution in domestic animals.
A complex genomic rearrangement causes a massive expansion of pigment cells in chickens, resulting in black skin and organs. Genetic studies in domestic animals have shed light on the process of evolution, with genomic rearrangements playing a significant role.
Researchers found that changes in one part of the skull were linked to changes throughout, challenging the idea of independent evolutionary events. The study used genealogical data and simulated shifts in skull shape associated with human evolution milestones.
A PhD student in ecology and evolutionary biology is tracking how viruses spread from flying foxes to humans. Her research aims to fill gaps in bat population data using samples from museum specimens.
Researchers found that hatcheries rapidly select for fish with exceptional survival and adaptation abilities, at the cost of their reproductive success in the wild. This study confirms 'domestication selection' as a primary driver of genetic changes in hatchery-born salmon.
Scientists at UCL have discovered three new gene regions on chromosome 16 associated with Crohn's Disease, which could lead to personalized treatment and improved understanding of its inheritance. The study used a novel gene mapping approach to analyze genetic information from 1698 patients, replicating results using independent US data.
A team of international researchers has developed an algorithm to infer the internal interactions of proteins and generate their atomic details from sequence information alone. This method could revolutionize the understanding of protein shapes and their functions, leading to breakthroughs in biology and medicine.
A team of Penn researchers has discovered that the evolution of the TAS2R38 gene, responsible for bitter taste perception, was driven by factors other than taste. The study found that African populations have a broader range of PTC taste sensitivity and unique genetic variants not seen in non-Africans.
New research reveals that climate change is causing certain species to adapt to new habitats, helping them track ongoing warming. The Brown Argus butterfly has successfully expanded its distribution northwards in the UK, using a range of distinct habitats.
A genetic factor regulating sleep duration has been identified in a study of over 4,000 participants. The ABCC9 gene variant affects sleep duration and is associated with metabolic syndrome symptoms. The discovery may explain the underlying mechanisms linking sleep to metabolic health.
A recent genetic study confirms that the wolf ancestors of modern dogs came from southern East Asia, contradicting theories placing their origins in the Middle East. The research, led by Dr. Peter Savolainen, analyzed Y-chromosomal DNA and found strong evidence supporting an Asian origin for dog domestication.
Researchers at EPFL and University of Geneva uncover a genetic mechanism that modulates gene activity through seven enhancers, leading to diversity in finger shapes. This discovery could help understand hereditary malformations and evolutionary variations in the animal kingdom.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute found that certain mutations can be maintained in populations if they have a heterozygote disadvantage, reducing their spread. This could help achieve safer release of genetically modified animals, such as mosquitoes resistant to malaria.
Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging data from 406 adult human twins to confirm the long-standing idea that human cortical regionalization is similar to and consistent with patterns found in other mammals. The study found genetic influences on brain development progress along an anterior-to-posterior scale, with differences base...
A new model explains the emergence of complex insect societies by positing that workers' selfish interests drive colony formation. This hypothesis suggests that at the early stages of social evolution, workers and queens act primarily in their own self-interest, rather than altruistically helping relatives.
New research reveals that columbines achieved a rapid radiation of 70 species through a simple change in cell shape, not cell proliferation. The extent of cell elongation drives diverse spur lengths across species.
Researchers sequenced bacterial genomes to understand how a pathogen evolves in response to human defenses and medical treatment. The study found widespread purifying selection, but also identified specific genes that showed strong evidence of positive selection.
Scientists have pieced together the most comprehensive phylogeny for mollusks, revealing surprising relationships between enigmatic groups. The study places Monoplacophora, thought extinct, as a sister clade to cephalopods, and establishes a single origin for shelled mollusks.
Researchers have determined the evolutionary family tree for the Hawaiian honeycreeper bird family, revealing they evolved from Eurasian rosefinches. The study used genetic data from 28 bird species to identify the ancestors of the 19 remaining species, which are facing significant extinction threats.