A study carried out by physicists shows that basic properties of polymer molecules, such as their subunit composition, are sufficient to trigger selection processes in a plausible prebiotic environment. Before life arose on earth, many physicochemical processes on our planet were highly chaotic. In every conceivable combination there was a multitude of small compounds and […]
The melting of large icebergs is a key stage in the evolution of the ice ages – ScienceDaily
A new study, in which the Andalusian Earth Sciences Institute (IACT) (CSIC-UGR) took part, described for the first time a key phase at the beginning of the great glaciations and shows that this can happen to our planet in the future. The results were recently published in the journal Nature. The study claims to have […]
Rock-Paper-Scissors Evolution Game – ScienceDaily
If B is better than A and C is better than B, the transitive property implies that C is better than A. However, this is not always the case. Every child is familiar with the rock-paper-scissors game – the epitome of non-transitivity where there is no clear hierarchy between the three choices, although every reciprocal […]
Can Evolution Be Predicted? Scientists have created a framework to test the predictions of biological theories of optimality, including evolution – ScienceDaily
Scientists have created a framework to test the predictions of biological theories of optimality, including evolution. Evolution adapts organisms to their ecological niche and optimizes them. This could be used to predict how an organism is developing, but how can such predictions be rigorously tested? The Biophysics and Computational Neuroscience group, led by Professor Gašper […]
Genetic evolution doesn't always take millions of years – ScienceDaily
Love them or hate them, there is no doubt that the European Star is an extremely successful bird. A new study from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology examines this alien species from the inside out. What exactly happened at the genetic level when the star population exploded from just 80 birds released in New York's […]
Ecological interactions as a driver of evolution – ScienceDaily
Understanding the interaction of organisms in the evolution of species is an important topic in ecology. For example, insects and plants are two large groups on earth that are linked by a variety of interactions. Since the middle of the 20th century, theories that combine this diversity and specific interactions have increased. The development of […]
Fossil Pigments Shed New Light on Vertebrate Evolution – ScienceDaily
UCC paleontologists have found new evidence that the fate of vertebrates has been shaped by microscopic melanin pigments for the past 400 million years. This new twist in the history of animal evolution is based on cutting-edge analysis of melanin granules – melanosomes – in many different fossil and modern vertebrates, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, […]
The new tubular hooded dinosaur skull shows the evolution of the bizarre crest – ScienceDaily
The first new skull discovered in nearly a century by a rare species of the legendary tubular-hooded dinosaur Parasaurolophus was announced in the magazine today PeerJ. The exquisite preservation of the skull, especially the bizarre tubular nasal passage, finally revealed the structure of the crest after decades of controversy. Despite its extreme morphology, details of […]
Spitting Cobra Venom Shows How Many Times Evolution Finds the Same Answer to a Common Problem – ScienceDaily
A study of cobras spitting published in science shows how a combination of poison components evolved to produce an instantly painful poison on three different occasions rather than instantly. This is the first clear example of the evolution of snake venom for defense, and a notable example of convergent evolution, or how natural selection can […]
New Starfish-Like Fossil Reveals Evolution in Action – ScienceDaily
Cambridge University researchers have discovered a fossil of the earliest starfish-like animal that is helping us understand the origins of the nimble-armed creature. The prototype starfish, which has similarities with both water lilies and modern starfish, is a missing link for scientists trying to piece together its early evolutionary history. The exceptionally preserved fossil called […]