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Evolution news
Rare fossil embryos show early Ecdysozoa development in Cambrian era
An international research team has made a notable discovery of fossil embryos belonging to Ecdysozoa, a diverse group of animals including roundworms, velvet worms, insects, and crabs. These fossils, dated to approximately ...
Evolution
8 hours ago
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Fly vs. wasp: Stealing a defense move helps thwart a predator
In the continual arms race between parasites and their hosts, innovation was thought to be the key to a successful attack or defense that one-ups the competition. But sometimes, as in the corporate world, outright theft can ...
Evolution
11 hours ago
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New study documents evolution of fast-growing, fish-eating herring in Baltic Sea
Atlantic and Baltic herring are typical plankton-eating fish of central importance for the northern Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea ecosystems. A new study published in Nature Communications led by scientists from Uppsala University ...
Evolution
Dec 23, 2024
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The genomic journey of modern and archaic humans may be older than we thought
Research conducted at the Department of Biology, University of Padova, has identified critical genomic milestones in the evolution of Homo sapiens, including key chromosomal rearrangements and specific gene variants that ...
Heterogeneous host populations drive evolution of more virulent pathogens, modeling study shows
The evolution of pathogens has received attention in a wide range of scientific fields, such as epidemiology, demography, and evolutionary ecology. Understanding pathogen evolution is particularly urgent for rapidly evolving ...
Evolution
Dec 20, 2024
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Sea snakes regain advanced color vision, recovering a complex trait once lost to evolutionary time
Nine species of sea snakes have now been identified as having regained the genetic requirements for advanced color vision, demonstrating that once a complex trait has been lost to evolutionary time, it may be regained in ...
Evolution
Dec 20, 2024
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Simulations of hominin Lucy help show how long distance running evolved in modern humans
A team of natural scientists, musculoskeletal specialists, and evolutionary biologists affiliated with several institutions in the U.K., working with a colleague from the Netherlands, has found via simulations, that the famous ...
Extended chart of life shows ancient species may have evolved slower and lasted longer
If all the world's a stage and all the species merely players, then their exits and entrances can be found in the rock record. Fossilized skeletons and shells clearly show how evolution and extinction unfolded over the past ...
Evolution
Dec 19, 2024
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Genetic mutations in parasites may lead to global spread of sleeping sickness
Parasites that cause the deadly illness known as sleeping sickness can spread beyond their native Africa as a result of mutations to key genes, a study shows.
Evolution
Dec 19, 2024
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Evolutionary study reveals toxic reach of disease-causing bacteria across plant kingdom
The capacity of bacteria to spread disease across the plant kingdom may be much more widespread than previously suspected, according to new analysis.
Evolution
Dec 19, 2024
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Could NZ's two kākā subspecies actually be remnants of a more diverse species? Here's why we need to know
As many Wellingtonians will know, kākā can be trouble. New Zealand's pesky forest parrots have expanded throughout New Zealand's capital city since they were reintroduced 22 years ago and they are not averse to "modifying" ...
Evolution
Dec 19, 2024
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Comprehensive analysis reveals hidden genomic evolution of brown algae
Covering over 70% of Earth's surface, the oceans are home to countless life forms that maintain ecological balance and support human well-being. Among these, brown algae (Phaeophyceae) play a crucial role in sustaining coastal ...
Evolution
Dec 18, 2024
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How a giant prehistoric elephant skull helped untangle an evolutionary mystery
About 400,000 years ago, early humans in Europe, Asia and Africa lived alongside giant straight-tusked elephants, far bigger than their modern-day cousins. Their evolution has long been a mystery to paleontologists, but an ...
Evolution
Dec 18, 2024
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Scientists witness evolution in action when two lizard species meet for the first time
In South Florida, two Caribbean lizard species met for the first time. What followed provided some of the clearest evidence to date of evolution in action.
Evolution
Dec 18, 2024
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Ferns' ability to evolve 'backward' offers insights into the meandering path of evolution
Imagine a photograph of your great-grandparents, grandparents and parents side by side. You'd see a resemblance, but each generation would look distinct from its predecessors. This is the process of evolution in its simplest ...
Plants & Animals
Dec 17, 2024
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Gene discovery unlocks secrets of salmon puberty and evolution
A study carried out at the University of Helsinki shows how a single gene in Atlantic salmon can dramatically influence the timing of puberty—a key factor for salmon life cycle and survival.
Evolution
Dec 17, 2024
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Were Neanderthals cold-adapted or were they just ready for anything? Ribcage reconstruction may hold the answer
Researchers at the Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid report that analysis of a Neanderthal ribcage from a cave in Iraq exhibits a "bell-shaped" thorax configuration typical of Neanderthals ...
Unidentified jumping bristletail exhibits extreme specialization in male external genitalia
Researchers at Meijo University and University of Tsukuba collected and taxonomically re-examined numerous enigmatic jumping bristletails. These were first reported 75 years ago. The team observed extreme specialization in ...
Plants & Animals
Dec 16, 2024
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Twins were the norm for our ancient primate ancestors—one baby at a time had evolutionary advantages
Twins have been rare in human history and for that reason can seem special. Many cultures associate twins with health and vitality, while others see them as a philosophical reminder of the duality of life and death, good ...
Evolution
Dec 16, 2024
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Closest relative of 'magic mushroom' discovered in Africa
A team of biologists, mycologists and microbiologists in the U.S., South Africa and Zimbabwe reports that a species of mushroom growing in parts of Africa is the closest relative of Psilocybe cubensis, the most widespread ...
More news
Do animals get jealous like people? Researchers say it's complicated
Neuronal adaptations shed light on anglerfish hunting behavior
Other news
NASA probe makes closest ever pass by the Sun
Researchers reveal full-gray optical trap in structured light
Two Earth-sized exoplanets orbiting nearby star detected
Extremely rare baby mammoth found in Siberia
Solar geoengineering could save 400,000 lives a year
Researchers develop tool to fast-track measurement of protein interactions for drug discovery
