US EditionEvolution isn’t random. Scientists find the same genes used for 120 million years
Researchers found seven species use the same two genes and regulatory switches to produce warning colors, suggesting evolution can follow repeatable pathways.
- Scientists have discovered that Lepidoptera relied on the same genetic "cheat sheet" for more than 120 million years, according to findings published in PLOS Biology suggesting evolution follows predictable patterns rather than random processes.
- These distantly related species share wing patterns warning predators of toxicity. Professor Joana Meier from the Wellcome Sanger Institute explained that if birds learn a pattern means "do not eat, we are toxic," it benefits other species to display the same warning colors.
- Instead of altering genes themselves, evolution modified regulatory elements, or "switches," that control when and where these genes are activated. Species repeatedly relied on the same two genes, ivory and optix, to produce nearly identical warning colors.
- Professor Kanchon Dasmahapatra from the University of York's Department of Biology noted that convergent evolution is common yet rarely investigated. Investigating seven butterfly lineages and a day-flying moth revealed Lepidoptera use the same genetic tricks repeatedly since the age of dinosaurs.
- Understanding that evolution follows established genetic routes could help scientists anticipate how species respond to environmental changes including climate shifts. Recognizing that nature tends to reuse biological solutions might make predicting future adaptations on Earth more achievable than previously believed.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Scientists Discover Evolution’s 120-Million-Year-Old “Cheat Sheet”
A long-standing assumption about evolution is being challenged by new research showing that vastly different species can rely on the same genetic pathways to develop similar traits. Scientists have discovered that evolution has relied on the same genetic “cheat sheet” for more than 120 million years, suggesting that the development of life on Earth may [...]
Science Daily
ecotopical.comEvolution isn’t random. Scientists find the same genes used for 120 million years
Evolution seems to follow a script more often than expected. Researchers found that distantly related butterflies and moths have reused the same pair of genes for over 120 million years to produce strikingly similar warning colors. Rather than altering the genes themselves, evolution modifies how they’re switched on and off. This discovery hints that life may evolve in more predictable ways than previously believed.
An international team of researchers led by York University and the Wellcome Sanger Institute has found evidence that evolution is not always a process of random mutations.
Study Reveals Butterflies and Moths Have Used the Same Genetic Toolkit for 120 Million Years
A groundbreaking study examining various South American butterfly lineages and diurnal moths reveals that convergent evolution—where unrelated species develop similar traits—follows a consistent genetic pattern. This discovery has significant implications for understanding how species may adapt to climate change. Ben Chehida and others. A flight study of Itomini, Isomini, and Heliconius butterflies, along with the [...] The post Study Reveals Bu…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 100% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
