Evolution News and Research

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Unraveling the Co-Evolution of Human Height and Basal Metabolic Rate

Taller stature and a higher basal metabolic rate are two characteristics that distinguish modern humans from non-human primates. A genetic variant that helped these traits co-evolve was discovered by researchers and published in Cell Genomics.

22 May 2025

Compression Drives Aggressive Behavior in Liver Cancer Cells

Yale researchers are providing new insights into how physical forces, such as cells being compressed in physically restrictive environments, play key roles in cancer progression.

21 May 2025

Tracing the Evolution of Cyanobacterial Circadian Clocks Through Earth's History

Investigating ancient cyanobacterial timekeeping systems sheds light on the evolution of circadian rhythms and their significance in Earth's ecosystems.

21 May 2025

Trace the Evolution of Malaria Parasite Proteins

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) have discovered that the evolution of a family of exported proteins in the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum allowed it to infect people.

20 May 2025

Animal Brains are a Treasure Trove of Innovation

A Monash University researcher at the forefront of animal cognition and behavioral studies is shining a light on how the field plays a critical role in driving forward societal innovation.

20 May 2025

Carriers of Recessive Disorders Face Hidden Health and Reproductive Problems

As a group, carriers of recessive disorders are slightly less healthy and have a reduced chance of having offspring.

16 May 2025

Scientists Develop EvoCAST for Efficient and Accurate Gene Insertion

Ask scientists what gene editing tool is most needed to advance gene therapy, and they'd probably describe a system that's now close to realization in the labs of Samuel Sternberg at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and David Liu at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

16 May 2025

DiffInvex Reveals Genetic Escape Routes Used by Tumors Against Treatment

Just as species adapt over generations, our body's cells accumulate DNA changes throughout life. Most are harmless, yet a few "driver" mutations give a cell a competitive edge and can spark cancer.

14 May 2025

Grapevine Cells Show Epigenetic Shifts in Response to Sugar Starvation

Plants face constant challenges from fluctuating nutrient availability, which disrupts their growth and survival.

10 May 2025

AI Designs Synthetic DNA to Control Gene Expression in Mammalian Cells

A study published today in the journal Cell marks the first reported instance of generative AI designing synthetic molecules that can successfully control gene expression in healthy mammalian cells.

10 May 2025

Scientists Use AI to Predict Future Viruses and Design Better Vaccines

Effective vaccines dramatically changed the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing illness, reducing disease severity, and saving millions of lives.

10 May 2025

Flowers Evolve Stench by Repurposing Detox Genes

Some plants lure pollinators not with sweet fragrances, but with the rank stench of decay. In a new study, researchers show how plants pull this off.

10 May 2025

Mammal’s Lifespans Linked to Brain Size and Immune System Function, Says New Study

Why do cats generally live longer than dogs? New research suggests that longer livespans of mammals like cats could be linked to their bigger brains and more complex immune systems.

9 May 2025

Unlocking the Molecular Secrets of Sweet Taste Perception

Our enjoyment of sweets can be traced to one subset of taste receptor cells – specialized sweet-sensing cells found in our taste buds – that initiate the chain of reactions driving our strong attraction and appetite for sugar.

8 May 2025

Study Unlocks Molecular Mechanisms Behind Tea Plant Defenses

Plants face constant threats from herbivores, prompting complex defense mechanisms. While grasses like rice and Arabidopsis have well-studied defense systems, woody plants like tea remain poorly understood.

7 May 2025

Grapevine Cells Reveal Epigenetic Response to Sugar Starvation

Plants face constant challenges from fluctuating nutrient availability, which disrupts their growth and survival.

6 May 2025

Evolutionary Rescue in Microbes Leads to the Collapse of Mutualism

Microorganisms –defined as very small living beings, invisible to the naked eye, comprising bacteria, fungi, viruses or others– naturally compete and cooperate in nature for survival.

5 May 2025

Genetic Diversity in Wild Rice Offers Clues for Crop Improvement

A new study, seen in Nature Genetics and led by researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST; Saudi Arabia) and Wageningen University & Research (the Netherlands), provides new insights on rice evolution, showing how the DNA of this valuable crop has changed across species.

29 Apr 2025

Reciprocal Regulatory Link Between ecDNA Maintenance and DNA Damage Response Revealed

Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) is a unique form of circular DNA that exists outside of normal chromosomes.

29 Apr 2025

New Pangenome Analysis Uncovers Genetic Key to Larger Peanut Yields

Researchers from Australia and China have identified crucial structural variations that determine seed size and weight in peanuts, paving the way for the development of higher-yielding crop varieties.

29 Apr 2025