https://phys.org/biology-news/evolution/ en-us The latest science news on evolution In a new study, appearing in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, scientists selectively bred Japanese quails into two groups: laying either relatively large or small eggs. As the quails don't do much "parenting" after eggs hatch, mothers' main contribution is the resources they transfer to their eggs (chicks from larger eggs are more likely to survive). https://phys.org/news/2026-04-birds-energy-parenthood-age-faster.html Plants & Animals Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:10:01 EDT news695294341 Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have identified simple rules that explain how complex protein structures assemble correctly and remain functional over time, despite having many theoretically possible configurations. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, focuses on bacterioferritin, a bacterial protein complex responsible for safely storing iron. Unlike simpler protein assemblies made of identical parts, many bacterioferritins are built from two different types of subunits, each with a distinct role. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-simple-proteins-evolve.html Evolution Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:40:06 EDT news695395621 Researchers at the University of Zurich have analyzed the genome of bacteria living in Lake Zurich to conclude that microbes employ two different strategies to colonize new habitats. Some acquire new traits, as expected—but others reduce the size of their genome and lose some functions in order to successfully move to a new home. The research is published in the journal Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-lake-bacteria-survive-slashing-genome.html Evolution Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:20:09 EDT news695389141 The CRISPR-Cas gene-editing system has long been the focus of research as a promising tool in genome editing. However, the emphasis has been on its underlying mechanisms and nucleases. In contrast, little research has examined how CRISPR-Cas systems have evolved and been optimized. In collaboration with the universities of Leipzig, Freiburg, and Michigan (U.S.), a research team at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) in Würzburg found an optimization mechanism in CRISPR-Cas13, providing insights into the evolution of these systems. The results were recently published in The EMBO Journal. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-built-hairpin-mechanism-crispr-cas13.html Evolution Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:40:06 EDT news695388602 Weasels are small carnivores with a long body and short legs. They also have a stout skull and sharp teeth. These creatures, along with ferrets and minks, make up the Mustelinae subfamily. Until now, researchers believed that the oldest fossils from this family were from Poland and Germany, dating back to about 3.5 million years ago in the Pliocene epoch. But a fossil discovered in Teruel, Spain, has doubled that estimate, dating back to the late Miocene, around 6.5 million years ago. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-tiny-predator-ancient-spain-weasel.html Evolution Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:00:05 EDT news695383441 A team of researchers from institutions across South America have expanded scholarly knowledge of the Pikelinia spider genus, with their recent discovery of a new crevice weaver species: Pikelinia floydmuraria. The new species name is a creative tribute to the legendary rock band Pink Floyd, while simultaneously referencing the spider's specific habitat. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-tiny-wall-spider-pink-floyd.html Plants & Animals Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:20:03 EDT news695377322 Two unrelated groups of nectar eaters, hummingbirds and sunbirds, have evolved different techniques to slurp the sweet liquid from flowers. The tongue suctioning employed by sunbirds is unique among vertebrates, according to recent research appearing in Current Biology. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-video-sunbirds-hummingbirds-dont.html Plants & Animals Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:10:01 EDT news695317621 It has long been known that environmental conditions can shape how traits are inherited, a phenomenon known as transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. However, the molecular signals responsible for encoding this biological "memory" have remained largely unknown. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-vitamin-b12-inherited-behavioral-generations.html Evolution Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:50:02 EDT news695315761 We thought it was evolution, but an experiment with pencils shows that tips like teeth and thorns may owe their rounded shape to mechanical wear. Most of us have been stung by a bee, bitten by an animal, or scratched by a thorny bush. But very few of us have probably taken a close look at nature's painful, pointed tips. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-teeth-thorns-coincidences-universal-nature.html Evolution Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:20:02 EDT news695033521 A remarkable new discovery is shedding light on one of the greatest survival stories in Earth's history, and answering a decades-old scientific mystery. Lystrosaurus, a hardy, plant-eating mammal ancestor, rose to prominence in the wake of the End-Permian Mass Extinction some 252 million years ago, the most devastating extinction event our planet has ever experienced. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-mammal-ancestors-laid-eggs-million.html Evolution Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:00:14 EDT news694942803 New research from the University of Portsmouth has found that great apes exhibit exactness in mimicking one another's facial expressions in social contexts. The study, published in Scientific Reports, explored how orangutans and chimpanzees mirror expressions during social interactions, particularly laugh faces, drawing comparisons with human behaviors such as the Duchenne smile—a genuine smile that engages both the mouth and eyes. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-great-apes-mirror-facial-precision.html Evolution Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:20:02 EDT news694952942 Stromatolites—and their close relatives, microbial mats—could be mistaken for what seems like a bunch of old dark rocks. But instead, they are dense, layered communities of microbes. Long before complex life such as animals or plants existed, stromatolites breathed the first molecules of oxygen into Earth's atmosphere. Now, in a study published in Current Biology, researchers say they may also hold insights into how complex life began. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-asgard-earth-tiny-tubes-reveal.html Evolution Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:00:06 EDT news694943992 Sometimes, different organisms can evolve the same ability independently, a process called parallel evolution. A new study from Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU) has found that dragonflies sense red light similarly to mammals, including humans. The findings were published in Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-dragonflies-humans-red-wavelengths-nm.html Evolution Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:20:05 EDT news694946676 Every breath you take is an ancient inheritance. The rise and fall of your chest, the intercostal muscles pulling your ribs outward, the rush of air into your lungs—this mechanism is so familiar it barely registers as remarkable. But a tiny, mummified reptile that died in an Oklahoma cave roughly 289 million years ago has revealed the oldest example of this breathing system in amniotes—a group that includes all reptiles, birds, mammals, and their common ancestors, among the first to conquer life on land. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-oldest-million-year-mummy-reveals.html Evolution Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:00:03 EDT news694792441 A new paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution, finds that changes in animal development induced by climate shock persist generations after the initial event. The escalating effects of climate change are likely to, in effect, speed up evolution. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-climate-evolution-inherited-gene.html Evolution Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:10:02 EDT news694795921 A famous 300-million-year-old fossil that was thought to be the world's oldest octopus—even featuring in the Guinness Book of Records—has turned out to be something else altogether. In what amounts to a case of mistaken identity, the fossil hid its true nature through decay 300 million years ago, before being fossilized. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-oldest-octopus-fossil-scans-reveal.html Evolution Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:10:01 EDT news694683001 Why are frogs diverse in some parts of Africa's rainforests and less so in others? The patterns of cooling and glaciation during the last ice age would probably not have been your first answer or even your last-ditch guess, but it is, nonetheless, correct. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-african-frogs-havent-forgotten-ice.html Evolution Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:40:03 EDT news694790761 An international research team, including the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), has described a new species of spider from the Ecuadorian Amazon: Taczanowskia waska. The species is characterized by an extraordinary form of mimicry: It represents the first documented case in which a spider mimics the appearance of a parasitic fungus. The findings are published in the journal Zootaxa. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-spider-species-amazon-mimics-parasitic.html Plants & Animals Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:00:02 EDT news694782421 Communication is central to the survival of most animals, including humans. Yet animals of different species communicate differently, and the complexity of their communication skills varies greatly. One characteristic of advanced communication systems is the ability to combine different sounds (i.e., vocal elements) to create structured sound sequences that convey more information. This ability, known as syntax or combinatoriality, was originally thought to be unique to humans, yet a growing body of research showed that it is also present in other species, including the Western Australian magpie. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-social-magpies-repertoire.html Plants & Animals Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:40:04 EDT news694772637 Just because a female olive baboon has mated with a specific male doesn't mean he will be the father of her offspring. According to a new study published in PLOS Biology, mate selection continues long after copulation as the vaginal tract appears to "weed out" genetically incompatible suitors. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-female-baboon-body-sperm.html Plants & Animals Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:50:04 EDT news694693851 In 1999, a clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) hatched in the aquarium of a tropical fish hobbyist in the UK. These clownfish are prized by aquarists for their unique pattern of three straight white bars bordered by a thin black line. But this UK fish was special: instead of the usual straight bars, it had wavy, corrugated patterns, symmetrical on both sides. The patterns were inherited across generations, leading to a lineage named "Snowflake," but the mechanism causing this irregular patterning remained a mystery. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-mutant-clownfish-reveals-nature-boundaries.html Evolution Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:20:01 EDT news694683721 "It takes a village to raise a child" doesn't apply merely to humans. Many species of mammals, birds, fish, and various invertebrates have evolved complex social care systems known as cooperative breeding. In these animal societies, offspring receive attention not only from their parents but also from other group members called helpers. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-village-cooperative-lake-tanganyika-fish.html Evolution Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:00:05 EDT news694191571 A new study by Harvard biologists reveals how octopuses feel their way to potential mates with a "taste by touch" sensory system and can even couple at arm's length without actually seeing each other. In a study featured on the cover of Science, the researchers deciphered how one male appendage serves as a multipurpose organ for seeking, sensing, and seeding—and even continues to respond to female sex hormones after being severed from the body. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-octopus-sensory-potential.html Plants & Animals Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:00:08 EDT news694251961 A newly discovered fossil site in southwest China has transformed our understanding of how complex animal life emerged on Earth, revealing that many key animal groups had already evolved before the start of the Cambrian Period. The study, led by researchers at Oxford University's Museum of Natural History and Department of Earth Sciences as well as Yunnan University in China, has been published in Science. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-spectacular-fossil-treasure-trove-complex.html Evolution Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:00:01 EDT news694251419 Butterfly fossils are rare, and finds that preserve fine anatomical details and wing patterns are an absolute exception. An international research team from Sweden, the U.S., and Germany, led by Dr. Hossein Rajaei, lepidopterist at the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, and with the participation of Prof. Dr. Torsten Wappler from the Hessian State Museum Darmstadt, has now described an exceptionally well-preserved butterfly fossil, approximately 34 to 28 million years old. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-fossilized-emperor-butterfly.html Evolution Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:40:01 EDT news694268881 As biologists know, nature can take its sweet time explaining itself. Andrew Gillis, associate scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), has been investigating how the paired fins of fishes evolved for nearly 20 years—ever since he was a Ph.D. student with Neil Shubin at the University of Chicago. A new study from Gillis and the MBL-UChicago Graduate Research Fellowship Program doesn't quite put the matter to rest, but it gives important insight to a broader question in evolutionary biology. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-fins-fingers-toes-body.html Evolution Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:30:04 EDT news694277942 When the environment changes dramatically, animals from mollusks to crows can make big changes in their behavior that enable them to survive. For example, marmots and ground squirrels in California are spending more time in wet vegetation and on steep slopes to counteract warmer temperatures. Polar bears, losing their floating ice habitats, are spending more time on land and adding birds' eggs and reindeer to their diets. And lake trout in Ontario, which rely on external water temperatures to maintain a healthy internal temperature, shift to cooler, deeper waters and eat smaller prey when the water becomes hotter than usual. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-behavioral-flexibility-affects-animal-evolution.html Evolution Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:10:08 EDT news694277401 Why do some species live for only weeks while others survive for centuries? Researchers at the Leibniz Institute on Aging—Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena have developed AEGIS, a freely available software tool that enables scientists to simulate evolution on a standard computer and investigate how lifespan and aging evolve under different ecological pressures and genetic constraints. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-free-software-laptops-simulate-aging.html Evolution Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:00:07 EDT news694262642 Many insects have lived in close symbiosis with bacteria for millions of years, during which time the bacteria have provided them with vital nutrients, making the mutualistic relationship so close that neither partner can survive without the other. However, the mechanisms and reasons behind the occasional exchange of symbionts during evolution have remained unclear until now. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-millions-years-insect-symbioses-fragile.html Evolution Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:50:01 EDT news694271941 It had been a long day of teaching for Rudy Lerosey-Aubril. As a reward, he returned to cleaning an intriguing Cambrian arthropod fossil he had recently received for review. At first, the specimen showed all the expected characteristics of its time—yet, something was off. In place of an antenna, there appeared to be a claw. "Claws are never in that location in a Cambrian arthropod," said Lerosey-Aubril, "It took me a few minutes to realize the obvious, I had just exposed the oldest chelicera ever found." https://phys.org/news/2026-03-million-year-clawed-predator-rewrites.html Evolution Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:00:14 EDT news694164841