Browsing Tag
natural selection
9 posts
Cacti may help explain a centuries‑old mystery of evolution
Jamie Thompson, University of Reading This question of why some branches of the tree of life explode into…
Fern stems reveal secrets of evolution – how constraints in development can lead to new forms
The lacy frond of the intermediate wood fern (Dryopteris intermedia). Jacob S. Suissa, CC BY-ND Jacob S. Suissa,…
How the first animals evolved – a new clue from a tiny relative
Max Telford, UCL The next time you go wild swimming, whether in a lake, river or sea, you…
Denisovan DNA helped first Americans adapt, study says
A unique segment of Denisovan DNA, inherited through Neanderthals, was favored by natural selection and may have contributed to the adaptation of the first peoples to life in the Americas.
AI helps solve Papua New Guinean genetic origin mystery
A new study finds the unique genetics of Papua New Guineans stem from a population bottleneck, not a separate 'Out of Africa' migration.
The Dinosaur Dilemma That Darwin Couldn’t Solve
An ingenious experiment with chickens reveals the surprising evolutionary advantage of a "half wing" in non-flying dinosaurs, finally solving a puzzle that has stumped scientists since Darwin's time.
Peacocks were a mystery. Darwin figured them out.
Unlike natural selection which favors traits for survival, sexual selection explains traits that enhance mating success, such as…
Birds’ Evolutionary Response to Global Warming Unveiled in Study
A recent study led by researchers from The University of Texas at Austin has unveiled new insights into…
The Math Underneath Competing Species
Say two animals live near each other—is there any math that best describes their predicament when both depend…