Tag

Hybridization

All articles tagged with #hybridization

science10 days ago•13 min saved

Ancient hybrid between tomato and a tuberless relative created the potato’s distinctive tuber

Genomic analysis published in Cell (2025) shows the potato lineage arose from an ancient hybrid between a tomato-lineage ancestor and an Etuberosum ancestor about 8–9 million years ago in southern South America, with two key genes (SP6A and IT1) from each parent driving tuber formation; domesticated ~7,000 years ago near Lake Titicaca, the potato is an evolutionary novelty that could inform modern breeding using wild relatives.

via Space Daily|

#agriculture #evolution #genetics

science1 month ago•15 min saved

Prime Cycles: How 13- and 17-Year Cicadas Outsmart Predators

Two vast broods of periodical cicadas—Brood XIX (13-year) and Brood XIII (17-year)—emerged simultaneously across the eastern U.S. in 2024, the first such event since 1803, with next co-emergence not until 2245. The 13- and 17-year cycles are prime numbers, a fitness strategy explained as reducing overlap with predators’ shorter life cycles, a concept supported by predator-avoidance theory and, in part, by hybridization hypotheses. In mass emergences, predator satiation further boosts cicada survival, making these prime cycles a striking example of how a mathematical property can influence evolution.}

via Space Daily|

#cicadas #hybridization #periodical-cicadas

science2 months ago•89 min saved

Genome reveals forest ancestry hidden in Africa’s savanna elephants, guiding conservation

A continent-wide genomic analysis of 232 African elephants (savanna Loxodonta africana and forest L. cyclotis) shows a deep species split with forest elephants more genetically diverse and historically larger effective population sizes, while savanna elephants display more inbreeding and higher genetic load. The study also uncovers widespread forest-into-savanna introgression, including recent hybrids at the DRC–Uganda and Garamba zones, plus trace forest ancestry across savanna populations in west-central Africa. Despite high within-species connectivity, human-driven habitat fragmentation has produced isolated peripheral populations with elevated runs of homozygosity, underscoring the need to maintain habitat connectivity and protected-area networks to preserve genetic diversity and potential fitness. These findings highlight gene flow as a key evolutionary force and provide genomic guidance for conservation of Africa’s keystone elephants.

via Nature|

#conservation #elephants #genomics

science11 months ago•6 min saved

Uncovering the 9-Million-Year-Old Tomato Connection to Potato Origins

Scientists discovered that potatoes originated from a hybridization event between ancestors of tomatoes and Etuberosum around 9 million years ago, which allowed them to adapt to high-altitude habitats in the Andes and eventually led to domesticated varieties. This hybridization provided potatoes with unique traits like tuber formation, and understanding this process could help develop disease-resistant and climate-resilient potato crops through genetic engineering.

via NPR|

#andes #evolution #genomics

science11 months ago•1 min saved

Scientists Trace the Potato's Origins to a 9-Million-Year-Old Tomato

Scientists have discovered that modern potatoes originated from a hybridization event 9 million years ago between two plants, one related to the tomato, shedding light on the potato's ancient evolutionary history and its significance in global food supply.

via WIRED|

#agriculture #history #hybridization

science11 months ago•3 min saved

Potatoes Evolved from Ancient Tomatoes, Study Reveals

A recent study reveals that modern potatoes evolved from a hybridization event between wild tomatoes and potato-like plants in South America around nine million years ago, highlighting the significant role of ancient hybridization in evolution and opening new avenues for potato breeding.

via ScienceAlert|

#evolution #genomics #hybridization

science11 months ago•0 min saved

Potatoes Evolved from Tomatoes in a 9 Million-Year-Old Genetic Mix

Scientists have discovered that the modern potato originated from hybridization between ancestors of tomato plants and a potato-like plant called etuberosum in South America around 9 million years ago, leading to the development of the petota lineage which includes cultivated and wild potato species.

via The Washington Post|

#evolution #hybridization #potato

science11 months ago•3 min saved

Potatoes Evolved from Tomato Ancestors, Say Scientists

Research reveals that potatoes originated from a hybridization event between wild tomato plants and potato-like species around 8-9 million years ago, which led to the development of tubers and contributed to the diversity of potato species today.

via Live Science|

#evolution #genetics #hybridization

science11 months ago•6 min saved

Shark Week Team Finds Rare Black Mako Sharks Off California

A Shark Week episode investigates unusual dark-colored 'black mako' sharks off California, exploring whether they are hybrids or a different species, with genetic testing as the key to understanding their true nature.

via Live Science|

#black-mako #california-coast #hybridization

science2 years ago•3 min saved

"Lizard's Superhero Genes Unleash Hulk-Like Transformation"

A subspecies of the common wall lizard, Podarcis muralis nigriventris, found in central Italy, exhibits larger size, green skin, and heightened aggression due to genetic introgression from another lineage. Researchers identified specific genes regulating neural crest cells that contribute to these traits, revealing the genetic basis for the lizard's distinctive appearance.

via Ars Technica|

#evolution #genetics #hybridization

science2 years ago•4 min saved

"Hybridization Drives Evolutionary Breakthrough in Butterflies"

Scientists have discovered the first animal species that arose from the merging of two parental species' genomes, providing evidence that hybridization can drive the evolution of new species. The Amazonian butterfly species Heliconius elevatus is a genetic mixture of 1 percent H. melpomene and 99 percent H. pardalinus, with the hybridization event occurring around 180,000 years ago. This finding challenges the traditional "tree of life" model and suggests that there may be more hybrid butterfly species waiting to be discovered through genomic data analysis.

via National Geographic|

#butterfly #evolution #genetics

science2 years ago•4 min saved

"Unlocking Longevity Secrets: Studying Ancient Gars, Earth's Primitive 'Living Fossils'"

Gars, known as "living fossils," have the slowest rate of molecular evolution among vertebrates, indicating an over-active DNA repair mechanism that could have implications for human health. A recent study led by researchers at Yale University found that gars' DNA and RNA have changed up to three orders of magnitude more slowly than any other major group of vertebrates. Additionally, gars are the most distantly diverged organisms known to hybridize, with their extremely slow evolutionary trajectory potentially allowing distantly related cousins to continue producing fertile offspring. The study suggests that understanding the gars' efficient DNA-repair mechanism could lead to advances in human medicine and disease prevention.

via National Geographic|

#dna-repair #gars #hybridization

pets2 years ago•5 min saved

Unraveling the Genetic Mysteries of the Bengal Cat

A study published in Current Biology explores the genetics of Bengal cats, a hybrid breed created by crossing domestic cats with Asian leopard cats in the 1960s. The research reveals that Bengal cats trace their heritage to species from millions of years ago and that their unique appearance is influenced by a small percentage of Asian leopard DNA. The study also uncovers that traits like the "glitter" coat in Bengal cats are caused by mutations in specific genes, offering valuable insights for cat lovers and scientists interested in hybridization and selection.

via Phys.org|

#bengal-cats #cat-breeds #domestic-cats

biology2 years ago•3 min saved

"Unraveling the Genetic Secrets of Slowly Evolving 'Living Fossil' Fish"

Research into ancient gars has revealed that their slow molecular evolution rates have led to the production of fertile hybrid offspring between species that haven't shared a common ancestor for 105 million years, providing a biological mechanism behind their status as "living fossils." This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary process in nature and could have implications for medical research.

via ScienceAlert|

#biology #dna #evolutionary-biology

science2 years ago•4 min saved

"Surprising Discovery: Blue Whales Found to Have Hybrid Offspring with Other Species"

A study reveals that Atlantic blue whales have a surprising amount of fin whale DNA in their genomes, indicating that the two species have been mating and producing viable hybrid offspring. The findings suggest that these hybrids are capable of reproducing, contrary to previous beliefs. While the genetic diversity and gene flow among the North Atlantic blue whale population are positive signs for their resilience, the potential impact of introgression on the whales' ability to adapt to environmental challenges, such as human-induced climate change, raises concerns for conservation efforts.

via Livescience.com|

#atlantic-ocean #blue-whales #conservation