The asteroid that killed the dinosaurs may have helped ants conquer the world
4 Articles
4 Articles
The asteroid wiped out dinosaurs 66 million years ago; now scientists say ‘jumping genes’ may have helped ants conquer the planet
The asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago may have helped create conditions for ants to diversify, a new study suggests. Published in Science Advances, the research links bursts of activity in mobile DNA sequences known as jumping genes to the evolution of major ant lineages. Researchers also found a connection between these genetic elements and the expansion of genes involved in smell, potentially strengthening the c…
The asteroid that killed the dinosaurs may have helped ants conquer the world
The asteroid that killed the dinosaurs may have set the stage for ants to conquer the planet, with a surprising boost from “jumping genes” hidden in their DNA. Scientists discovered that bursts of activity from these mobile genetic elements coincided with the rise of major ant groups and may have helped sharpen their extraordinary ability to communicate through smell.
More than 15,000 species of ants live on the planet today, and part of that success may have started with the asteroid that closed the dinosaur era, 66 years ago.
New research by scientists suggests that jumping genes and genetic changes after the extinction of the dinosaurs may have played a role in the diversification of ants and the expansion of these insects' ability to communicate chemically.
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