Science adviser confirms gars as "living fossils" that have not evolved much.
The article discusses the concept of "living fossils" in evolution, focusing on gars, a type of fish that has remained relatively unchanged for millions of years. Charles Darwin first coined the term "living fossil" to describe species that have maintained their ancient characteristics over long periods. Scientists have been debating whether these species truly avoid evolution or just resemble their ancestors. A recent study published in Evolution confirms that gars have an exceptionally slow rate of molecular evolution among jawed vertebrates. The researchers propose that gars' remarkable DNA repair mechanisms have contributed to their lack of significant evolution. Despite diverging from a common ancestor over 100 million years ago, gars have remained largely similar, with some still hybridizing and producing viable offspring.
The study's findings have impressed experts in the field, such as Tetsuya Nakamura, an evolutionary developmental biologist at Rutgers University, who described the research as amazing. The study sheds light on the mechanisms behind the timelessness of living fossils like gars and emphasizes the importance of understanding DNA repair machinery in evolution. By revealing that gars have exceptionally stable genomes due to proficient DNA repair mechanisms, the research challenges previous assumptions about the evolutionary stagnation of living fossils.
Additionally, the article touches on other scientific breakthroughs, such as a study on ion channels' role in touch perception. Scientists have discovered a new ion channel called ELKIN1, which appears to be crucial in human touch perception. The article explains that when nerve endings in the skin experience touch or pressure, ion channels like PIEZO and ELKIN1 allow ions to flow across cell membranes, converting mechanical stimuli into electrical signals. Research in Germany has shown that ELKIN1 plays an essential role in touch sensation, as demonstrated by experiments on mice lacking this ion channel. These findings could have implications for understanding touch perception in humans and potentially lead to new treatments for conditions like chronic pain.
Furthermore, the article briefly discusses astronomy, mentioning how ultraviolet radiation from bright stars in the Orion nebula is affecting the formation of planets in the region. The intense UV radiation is stripping gas from a protoplanetary disk, hindering the formation of gas giants like Jupiter. Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope suggest that these stellar "winds" could prevent the development of large planets in the affected area.
Overall, the article highlights significant advancements in various scientific fields, from genetics and evolution to sensory perception and astronomy. These findings contribute to our understanding of the natural world and offer potential insights into fundamental processes such as evolution, touch perception, and planet formation.
(Source: https://www.science.org/content/article/scienceadviser-living-fossil-gars-really-do-dodge-evolution)
The study's findings have impressed experts in the field, such as Tetsuya Nakamura, an evolutionary developmental biologist at Rutgers University, who described the research as amazing. The study sheds light on the mechanisms behind the timelessness of living fossils like gars and emphasizes the importance of understanding DNA repair machinery in evolution. By revealing that gars have exceptionally stable genomes due to proficient DNA repair mechanisms, the research challenges previous assumptions about the evolutionary stagnation of living fossils.
Additionally, the article touches on other scientific breakthroughs, such as a study on ion channels' role in touch perception. Scientists have discovered a new ion channel called ELKIN1, which appears to be crucial in human touch perception. The article explains that when nerve endings in the skin experience touch or pressure, ion channels like PIEZO and ELKIN1 allow ions to flow across cell membranes, converting mechanical stimuli into electrical signals. Research in Germany has shown that ELKIN1 plays an essential role in touch sensation, as demonstrated by experiments on mice lacking this ion channel. These findings could have implications for understanding touch perception in humans and potentially lead to new treatments for conditions like chronic pain.
Furthermore, the article briefly discusses astronomy, mentioning how ultraviolet radiation from bright stars in the Orion nebula is affecting the formation of planets in the region. The intense UV radiation is stripping gas from a protoplanetary disk, hindering the formation of gas giants like Jupiter. Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope suggest that these stellar "winds" could prevent the development of large planets in the affected area.
Overall, the article highlights significant advancements in various scientific fields, from genetics and evolution to sensory perception and astronomy. These findings contribute to our understanding of the natural world and offer potential insights into fundamental processes such as evolution, touch perception, and planet formation.
(Source: https://www.science.org/content/article/scienceadviser-living-fossil-gars-really-do-dodge-evolution)
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