Articles tagged with Evolutionary Genetics
Researchers have discovered powerful evidence that an ancient common ancestor invented a set of body-building genetic machinery that has survived to this day. This discovery revolutionizes our understanding of the origin of animal life, as it reveals that the development of appendages was solved just once in the distant past.
Sexual reproduction in brewer's yeast found to be better at removing harmful genetic mutations than single-sexed populations. This could explain why humans and other vertebrates evolved to have two parents instead of cloning themselves.
A study by Cornell University biologist Stephen T. Emlen found that evolutionary predispositions, such as helping closely related kin, can lead to conflict and violence in modern families. The biologist suggests that increasing awareness of these inherited behaviors can help minimize damage in stepfamily situations.
Researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center have identified a mutation in a small flowering plant that disrupts male-female communication, leading to pollen tubes wandering aimlessly. This defect is similar to self-sterility observed in many plant species, which helps maintain genetic diversity.