Genetic Evolution
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Scientists Uncover "Ghost Genes" That Predate The Dawn Of Life
New research into "universal paralog" genes reveals that the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) was not the first spark of life, but a successor that inherited complex genetic tools from an even older, "pre-LUCA" ecological system.
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Study Reveals Sea Urchins Have Brain-Like System Spread Across Their Whole Body
All bilateral creatures have some asymmetry, such as the human heart being located slightly to the left and the liver being located predominantly to the right.
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Scientists Reconstruct Bust Of Woman From 10,500 Years Ago
Reborn via a close partnership between science and art, Mos'anne's bust was created at Belgium's Ghent University as part of a project to explore how the region's last hunter-gatherers lived during the Mesolithic era.
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7,100-Year-Old Skeleton Reveals Unknown Human Lineage in China
A groundbreaking study of a 7,100-year-old skeleton found in Yunnan, China, has revealed a "ghost" human lineage previously known only through genetic inference. The woman, named Xingyi_EN, belonged to a deeply divergent group called the Basal Asian Xingyi lineage, which may have contributed to modern Tibetan ancestry. This discovery, along with ev...
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Iguanas Travelled 5,000 Miles to Fiji on Rafts 34 Million Years Ago
Iguanas undertook a remarkable 5,000-mile journey from North America to Fiji around 34 million years ago. According to a new genetic study, these reptiles floated on rafts of vegetation, possibly due to extreme weather events. The research, published in PNAS, found that Fiji’s iguanas are closely related to North American species, contradicting e...
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Ancient Europeans Retained Dark Skin, Hair and Eyes Until the Iron Age, Claims New Study
A genetic study analysing 348 ancient DNA samples reveals that most prehistoric Europeans had dark skin, hair, and eyes well into the Iron Age. Although genes for lighter pigmentation appeared around 14,000 years ago, they remained rare until about 3,000 years ago. Lighter skin may have been advantageous for vitamin D production, while lighter eyes...
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Neanderthal Genetic Bottleneck 110,000 Years Ago May Explain Their Decline
A study suggests that Neanderthals experienced a population bottleneck 110,000 years ago, drastically reducing their genetic diversity. CT scans of their inner ear bones revealed a sharp decline in variation, indicating a drop in population size. This event may have made Neanderthals more vulnerable to environmental and competitive pressures, contr...
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Human Outer Ears May Have Evolved from Ancient Fish Gills, Study Finds
Human outer ears may have evolved from the cartilage in ancient fish gills, according to recent research. Gene-editing experiments demonstrated a genetic link between fish gills and mammalian ears, with findings suggesting this transformation dates back millions of years. Researchers tested genetic enhancers in zebrafish, mice, and lizards, uncover...
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Marsupial Mole’s Evolutionary Mystery Solved: Genetic Study Links to Bilbies and Bandicoots
A genetic study has revealed that the marsupial mole, an elusive Australian species, is a true marsupial, more closely related to bilbies and bandicoots than to other moles. This discovery, based on a specimen from the South Australian Museum, challenges previous assumptions about its evolutionary origins. Marsupial moles, known for their backward-...
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Lake Mendota's Bacteria Are Stuck in an Evolutionary Loop, Finds Study
Research in Lake Mendota reveals seasonal bacterial evolution, with microbes adapting to environmental shifts over 20 years. Despite rapid changes, many species return to prior genetic states, highlighting cyclical evolution patterns. Extreme weather events, like those seen in 2012, led to lasting genetic adaptations, offering insights into how mic...
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Scientists Uncover "Ghost Genes" That Predate The Dawn Of Life
New research into "universal paralog" genes reveals that the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) was not the first spark of life, but a successor that inherited complex genetic tools from an even older, "pre-LUCA" ecological system.
-
Study Reveals Sea Urchins Have Brain-Like System Spread Across Their Whole Body
All bilateral creatures have some asymmetry, such as the human heart being located slightly to the left and the liver being located predominantly to the right.
-
Scientists Reconstruct Bust Of Woman From 10,500 Years Ago
Reborn via a close partnership between science and art, Mos'anne's bust was created at Belgium's Ghent University as part of a project to explore how the region's last hunter-gatherers lived during the Mesolithic era.
-
7,100-Year-Old Skeleton Reveals Unknown Human Lineage in China
A groundbreaking study of a 7,100-year-old skeleton found in Yunnan, China, has revealed a "ghost" human lineage previously known only through genetic inference. The woman, named Xingyi_EN, belonged to a deeply divergent group called the Basal Asian Xingyi lineage, which may have contributed to modern Tibetan ancestry. This discovery, along with ev...
-
Iguanas Travelled 5,000 Miles to Fiji on Rafts 34 Million Years Ago
Iguanas undertook a remarkable 5,000-mile journey from North America to Fiji around 34 million years ago. According to a new genetic study, these reptiles floated on rafts of vegetation, possibly due to extreme weather events. The research, published in PNAS, found that Fiji’s iguanas are closely related to North American species, contradicting e...
-
Ancient Europeans Retained Dark Skin, Hair and Eyes Until the Iron Age, Claims New Study
A genetic study analysing 348 ancient DNA samples reveals that most prehistoric Europeans had dark skin, hair, and eyes well into the Iron Age. Although genes for lighter pigmentation appeared around 14,000 years ago, they remained rare until about 3,000 years ago. Lighter skin may have been advantageous for vitamin D production, while lighter eyes...
-
Neanderthal Genetic Bottleneck 110,000 Years Ago May Explain Their Decline
A study suggests that Neanderthals experienced a population bottleneck 110,000 years ago, drastically reducing their genetic diversity. CT scans of their inner ear bones revealed a sharp decline in variation, indicating a drop in population size. This event may have made Neanderthals more vulnerable to environmental and competitive pressures, contr...
-
Human Outer Ears May Have Evolved from Ancient Fish Gills, Study Finds
Human outer ears may have evolved from the cartilage in ancient fish gills, according to recent research. Gene-editing experiments demonstrated a genetic link between fish gills and mammalian ears, with findings suggesting this transformation dates back millions of years. Researchers tested genetic enhancers in zebrafish, mice, and lizards, uncover...
-
Marsupial Mole’s Evolutionary Mystery Solved: Genetic Study Links to Bilbies and Bandicoots
A genetic study has revealed that the marsupial mole, an elusive Australian species, is a true marsupial, more closely related to bilbies and bandicoots than to other moles. This discovery, based on a specimen from the South Australian Museum, challenges previous assumptions about its evolutionary origins. Marsupial moles, known for their backward-...
-
Lake Mendota's Bacteria Are Stuck in an Evolutionary Loop, Finds Study
Research in Lake Mendota reveals seasonal bacterial evolution, with microbes adapting to environmental shifts over 20 years. Despite rapid changes, many species return to prior genetic states, highlighting cyclical evolution patterns. Extreme weather events, like those seen in 2012, led to lasting genetic adaptations, offering insights into how mic...
