Category Archives: Evolutionary Biology

Mitochondria, Efficient Energy Production with Dangerous Side Effects?

By mdunn | Published: March 5, 2010
Scientists from Harvard Teaching Medical Hospital have discovered that Mitochondria respond to trauma by creating patient inflammation and a response not unlike bacterial infection. Best known as the energy producing powerhouses of the cell (being home of the Citric Acid Cycle and oxidative phosphorylation), Mitochondria have long been recognized as ancient symbiots – not originally [...]
Also posted in Biology, Cell Biology, Health & Medicine | 1 Comment

Rime of the Pleistocene Mariner (and Other Oddities in Cognitive Evolution)

By cyoungbull | Published: March 3, 2010
The patterns of social behavior are predicated upon biological patterns which are themselves driven by environmental and physical patterns. Sometimes though, Nature throws us for a loop and things are discovered which seem to defy our perceptions of evolution.  Examples of ideas, organisms and phenomena that stand out as temporal oddities are all around us. Many technologies [...]
Also posted in AntiScience, Cognitive Evolution | 1 Comment

Discovery Institute’s Embarrassing Diatribe About Darwinism

By jyaron | Published: December 28, 2009
The Discovery Institute is a dangerous organization to be associated with; not necessarily physically dangerous, but academic careers can spiral to oblivion when members of this Seattle-based Intelligent Design (read: “science needs religion!”) group make statements like the one they did today. This article is title “PBS: Publishing Bad Science” and discusses (with evidence that [...]
Also posted in AntiScience, Genetics, Genomics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

New Insight About Why Chimpanzees Can’t Speak, But We Can

By jyaron | Published: November 13, 2009
Why is it that humans can speak, but chimpanzees, with their >98% genetic identity to humans, can’t? For almost a decade scientists have known that the FOXP2 gene is responsible for the mendelian development of language in humans. Theories abound about how a mere 2 amino acid change may have been all that was needed [...]
Also posted in Biology, Zoology | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

36 Beautiful and Amazing Biology-themed T-Shirts

By jyaron | Published: September 11, 2009
What better way to celebrate your love of biology than to wear it proudly for everyone to see? Here is a collection of 36 beautiful, clever, and hilarious biology-themed t-shirts. The rest of the shirts after the break. Share/Save
Also posted in Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Lists, Microbiology, Microscopy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Whole Genome Duplications Are Potentially An Evolutionary Advantage

By jyaron | Published: September 11, 2009
A study recently published in Nature suggests that whole genome duplications may have posed an evolutionary advantage in our ancient ancestors. This is a surprising discovery considering the rarity of contemporary whole genome duplications being preserved. These findings may provide insight into new “tactics” organisms use during the course of evolution. Read the original Nature publication Share/Save
Also posted in Genomics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Molecular Decay Of Enamel-specific Gene In Toothless Mammals Supports Theory Of Evolution

By jyaron | Published: September 4, 2009
Biologists report new evidence for evolutionary change recorded in both the fossil record and the genomes (or genetic blueprints) of living organisms, providing fresh support for Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. The researchers were able to correlate the progressive loss of enamel in the fossil record with a simultaneous molecular decay of a gene, called [...]
Also posted in Genomics, Zoology | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spare Gene Is Fodder For Fishes’ Evolution

By jyaron | Published: September 4, 2009
Scientists have suspected that spare parts in the genome — extra copies of functional genes that arise when genes or whole genomes get duplicated — might sometimes provide the raw materials for the evolution of new traits. Now, researchers report that they have discovered a prime example of this in fish. Read More Share/Save
Also posted in Genetics, Genomics | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

First Genetic Link Between Reptile And Human Heart Evolution Found

By jyaron | Published: September 4, 2009
Scientists have traced the evolution of the four-chambered human heart to a common genetic factor linked to the development of hearts in turtles and other reptiles. The research shows how a specific protein that turns on genes is involved in heart formation in turtles, lizards and humans. Read More Share/Save
Also posted in Genetics | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Web-based Evolution Tool

By jyaron | Published: August 7, 2009
Sudhir Kumar (Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University) and  Blair Hedges (Penn State) have released a new web-based tool for comparing the evolutionary divergence times between multiple organisms. The tool is called the Timetree of Life and it (along with the book published at the same time) is expected to become a top resource for evolutionary [...]
Also posted in Biology, Web Resources | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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