The genetic turning point that made backbones possible

The genetic turning point that made backbones possible

Scientists have uncovered a surprising genetic shift that may explain how animals with backbones—from fish and frogs to humans—became so complex. By comparing sea squirts, lampreys, and frogs, researchers found that key genes controlling cell communication began producing many more protein variations right at the moment vertebrates emerged. This genetic flexibility likely helped cells specialize in new ways, shaping the development of diverse ti…

How Vertebrates Became Complex: New Research Points to a Small Group of Powerful Genes

The question of how vertebrates—the group that includes fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals—evolved their remarkable complexity compared to their invertebrate ancestors has long fascinated evolutionary biologists. Now, an international team of researchers has identified a striking pattern in how certain critical genes behave differently in vertebrates versus invertebrates, potentially solving a piece of this evolutionary puzzle. The s…