Evolutionary biology

An international consortium has sequenced the hagfish genome, filling a significant gap in vertebrate evolutionary research. This work, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, enhances understanding of genome duplications in vertebrates and their impact on the evolution of major physiological structures. Credit: Universtiy of MalagaResearchers have sequenced the hagfish genome, providing vital insights into vertebrate evolution and genome duplication history.An international scientific team made up of more than 40…

Recent research indicates that the monkeypox virus has been mutating and transmitting among humans since 2016, challenging its traditional classification as a zoonotic disease. This calls for updated public health approaches and global surveillance to control and eradicate the virus.A recent study reveals that the monkeypox, or mpox, virus is evolving into multiple strains due to mutations caused by ongoing interactions with the human immune system, suggesting that the virus has been circulating in humans since…

A study on wild gray mouse lemurs by the German Primate Center revealed that higher cognitive skills and exploratory behavior contribute to longer lifespans. The research, which included various cognitive and personality tests, indicates that intelligence and physical vigor are key strategies for survival in wildlife.Mouse lemurs that perform better in cognitive tests live longer.Cognitive abilities not only vary among different species but also among individuals within the same species. It is expected that smarter…

A great hammerhead shark’s two eyes can be 3 feet apart on opposite sides of its skull.Why do hammerhead sharks have hammer-shaped heads?Hammerhead sharks are the strange-looking ones. They look like someone grabbed their skull by the eye sockets and stretched their heads out sideways, while the rest of their bodies look like those of a normal shark.You might wonder – what are the advantages of having a hammer-shaped head? And how did hammerhead sharks get that way in the first place?I’m a scientist who has been studying…

A view from the summit of Volcán Salín, one of three Andean volcanoes where researchers uncovered the mummified cadavers of mice. Analyses of the mummies, combined with the capture of live specimens, suggest that the rodents scaled the Mars-like peaks on their own — and are somehow managing to live on them. Credit: Jay Storz, University of Nebraska–LincolnThe study dismisses any connection to Incan rituals, suggesting that mice ascended independently.In the midst of the driest desert on Earth, atop 20,000-foot volcanoes,…

A Stanford study using genetic and molecular tools has unraveled the mystery of starfish anatomy, revealing that their “head” is distributed across multiple regions, including the center and each limb. This finding challenges traditional understanding and suggests a complex evolutionary history. The research, exploring the transformation from bilateral to pentaradial body plans, emphasizes the importance of studying diverse life forms to gain insights into evolutionary biology.If you put a hat on a starfish, where would…

Researchers used computer models to investigate the evolutionary role of aging. They challenge the notion that aging has no positive function, suggesting it might expedite evolution in changing environments, thereby benefiting subsequent generations. Their findings indicate that aging could be an advantageous trait selected by natural evolution. Credit: SciTechDaily.comThe mystery of aging has fascinated people for millennia, with many willing to do anything to halt or reverse this process, because aging is typically…

By Harvard University, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology December 15, 2023A groundbreaking study has discovered the earliest known instance of leaf mining by insects in a 312-million-year-old fossil, pushing back the estimated origin of this behavior by 70 million years and providing new insights into the evolution and behaviors of early insects. Credit: SciTechDaily.comPrehistoric insects, with their delicate and soft bodies, are challenging to preserve as fossils. While wings are more commonly…

A comprehensive study confirms the antagonistic pleiotropy theory of aging, showing a genetic correlation between high reproduction and shorter lifespan. However, it highlights that environmental factors have a greater impact on modern human lifespan and reproductive behavior. New research supports the theory that genes promoting early reproduction may accelerate aging, but emphasizes the dominant role of environmental factors in determining lifespan and reproduction. A University of Michigan-led study based on a review…

As It Happens6:32The mating dance of sea fireflies is ‘the coolest fireworks show that you've ever seen’: scientistNicholai Hensley has spent countless hours standing waist-deep in pitch-black waters off the coast of Panama, watching thousands of tiny sea creatures perform dazzling displays of bright blue light.The creatures — each the size of a sesame seed — belong to a recently discovered species of ostracod, also known as sea fireflies, whose males lure potential mates with a synchronized dance powered by iridescent…