Biological adaptation is the evolutionary process through which heritable traits that enhance an organism’s fitness become more prevalent in a population over generations under specific environmental conditions. It operates primarily via natural selection acting on genetic variation, including mutations, recombination, and gene flow, and is constrained by developmental, genetic, and phylogenetic factors. Adaptations can be morphological, physiological, or behavioral and are typically characterized by increased survival or reproductive success in a given niche. The process is dynamic and context-dependent, such that traits advantageous in one environment may be neutral or deleterious in another, contributing to diversification and speciation.
As early humans spread from lush African forests into grasslands, their need for ready sources of energy led them to develop a taste for grassy plants, especially grains and the starchy plant tissue hidden underground.
Evolution
Jul 31, 2025
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As tropical fishes colonize new habitats in temperate oceans, made available to them because of ocean warming, researchers have found that those who shoal alongside neighbors that are native to the area learn behaviors that ...
Ecology
Jul 28, 2025
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Climate change is significantly affecting forest ecosystems through rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. Tropical forests are particularly vulnerable to these ...
Ecology
Jul 26, 2025
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Many species of songbirds have evolved to have strikingly colorful plumage, aiding them in catching the eye of mates, signaling, and recognizing each other. These eye-catching patterns have long interested scientists, who ...
In a first-of-its-kind experiment tracing evolution across 25 generations, scientists have discovered that marine copepods—the tiny crustaceans at the heart of the ocean food web—rely on a largely unknown biological toolkit ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 24, 2025
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Ingredients of our daily diet—including caffeine—can influence the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. This has been shown in a new study by a team of researchers at the Universities of Tübingen and Würzburg led ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 23, 2025
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From the ultra-high frequency hearing of the Greater Wax Moth to the polarized light-detecting eyes of mantis shrimp, evolution by natural selection has produced a spectacular array of sensory adaptations that enhance survival. ...
New research from Queen Mary University of London reveals how fruit fly larvae have repeatedly evolved their temperature preferences, shedding light on the intricate ways animals adapt to their environments. The study, published ...
Evolution
Jul 21, 2025
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Unraveling the genetic mechanisms behind adaptive evolution stands as a pivotal challenge in molecular biology. While organisms often exhibit rapid phenotypic adjustments to environmental shifts, the underlying genomic processes ...
Evolution
Jul 18, 2025
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While humans can escape the heat by seeking shade or shedding layers, plants remain rooted in place. So how do they survive extreme heat? It's a question many have wondered—and now, science has an answer.
Plants & Animals
Jul 14, 2025
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