Research Update Into the brain of comb jellies: scientists explore the evolution of neurons A new study into the neurons found in the earliest-diverging animal lineages reveals key clues about the form of the most ancestral nervous system, and how it first evolved.
Research Update Hidden in genetics: The evolutionary relationships of two groups of ancient invertebrates revealed Using high quality molecular data, researchers have re-investigated a long-standing question about the position of two phyla of small aquatic invertebrates—Kamptozoa and Bryozoa—on the evolutionary tree.
Research Update A family of termites has been traversing the world’s oceans for millions of years A comprehensive family tree, based on DNA sequences, has revealed that drywood termites have made at least 40 oceanic journeys over the last 50 million years to reach far flung landmasses.
Research Update Unravelling the ancient stories hidden in DNA Scientists have compared the chromosomes of three major animal groups to reveal that they have been surprisingly stable across a time span of at least 550 million years.
Research Update Scientists reveal genetic secrets of stress-tolerant mangrove trees Mangrove trees use changes in gene activity, including the activity of parasitic ‘jumping genes’, to increase their resilience to stress, a new study finds.