Evolution
- The riddle of speechAfter FOXP2 dominated research on the origins of speech, other candidate genes have recently emerged
After FOXP2 dominated research on the origins of speech, other candidate genes have recently emerged
- Philip Hunter, Freelance journalist (ph{at}philiphunter.com)1
The evolution of language, which is unique to humans, has been a riddle for scholars. Molecular biologists are now putting together a genetic theory of how speech and language developed.
EMBO Reports (2019) 20: e47618
- © 2019 The Author
- A case for evolutionary hermeneutics
- Ladislav Kováč (kovacl{at}fns.uniba.sk)1
Modern science follows Bayes’ formula: reassess knowledge in light of new data to gain new knowledge. A new science of hermeneutics could systematically reevaluate old theories for new insights.
EMBO Reports (2019) 20: e47620
- © 2019 The Author
- Genomics yields fresh insights on plant domesticationUnderstanding the process of domestication can help to guide breeding efforts in plants
Understanding the process of domestication can help to guide breeding efforts in plants
- Philip Hunter, Freelance journalist (ph{at}philiphunter.com)1
Millennia of domestication have left their traces in the genomes of domesticated plants. Understanding these changes could inform breeding and genomic engineering approaches to improve yield and resilience of crops and other plants.
EMBO Reports (2018) 19: e47153
- © 2018 The Author
- Do not poison thyselfMechanisms to avoid self‐toxicity could inspire novel compounds and pathways for synthetic biology and applications for agriculture
Mechanisms to avoid self‐toxicity could inspire novel compounds and pathways for synthetic biology and applications for agriculture
- Philip Hunter, Freelance journalist (ph{at}philiphunter.com)1
The mechanisms by which poisonous plants and animals protect themselves against their own toxins provide interesting leads for synthetic biology with potential applications in medicine and agriculture.
EMBO Reports (2018) 19: e46756
- © 2018 The Author
- The revival of the extended phenotypeAfter more than 30 years, Dawkins’ Extended Phenotype hypothesis is enriching evolutionary biology and inspiring potential applications
After more than 30 years, Dawkins’ Extended Phenotype hypothesis is enriching evolutionary biology and inspiring potential applications
- Philip Hunter (ph{at}philiphunter.com)1
When Richard Dawkins proposed the Extended Phenotype hypothesis, it was an interesting addition to explain beaver dams or termite nests. With new technologies and a renewed interest, it is now inspiring research to understand co‐evolution in ecosystems and applications in agriculture and conservation.
EMBO Reports (2018) 19: e46477
- © 2018 The Author
- Biology, a science of greys
- Jordi Casanova (jcrbmc{at}ibmb.csic.es)1
Models and categories are useful research tools in biology but they do not necessarily represent reality. To better understand life's complexity and avoid pointless controversies, we need to be more aware of their limitations.
EMBO Reports (2018) 19: e46332
- © 2018 The Author
- The genetics of domesticationResearch into the domestication of livestock and companion animals sheds light both on their “evolution” and human history
Research into the domestication of livestock and companion animals sheds light both on their “evolution” and human history
- Philip Hunter, Freelance journalist (ph{at}philiphunter.com)1
Genetic, archeological and historical studies of the evolution of livestock and companion animals yields new insights into the history of both animal domestication and the rise of human civilizations.
- © 2018 The Author
- We're on a road to nowhereCulture and adaptation to the environment are driving human evolution, but the destination of this journey is unpredictable
Culture and adaptation to the environment are driving human evolution, but the destination of this journey is unpredictable
- Andrea Rinaldi, Freelance science writer (rinaldi.ac{at}gmail.com)1
The invention of culture allowed mankind to create its own ecological niches. But does it mean that humans have stopped evolving biologically or are we still adapting to our artificial environment?
- © 2017 The Author
- Viral taxonomyThe effect of metagenomics on understanding the diversity and evolution of viruses
The effect of metagenomics on understanding the diversity and evolution of viruses
- Philip Hunter, Freelance journalist (ph{at}philiphunter.com)1
The advent of next‐generation sequencing and metagenomics is challenging viral taxonomy to define and characterize viruses along with providing novel insights into the vast diversity of viruses and their evolution.
- © 2017 The Author
- The greatest kinetochore show on earth
Coordinated chromosome duplication and segregation is key to the existence of every organism on our planet. In eukaryotes, sophisticated protein assemblies called kinetochores are universally required for chromosome segregation, but their protein composition can diverge across the eukaryotic tree of life. In this issue of EMBO Reports, van Hooff et al [1] shed light on kinetochore evolution with a comprehensive study of kinetochore composition across 90 phylogenetically diverse eukaryotes. They show that certain kinetochore complexes have taken distinct evolutionary paths to arrive at a strikingly broad compositional array in present‐day eukaryotes, providing exciting new insights into the origins, function, and flexibility of eukaryotic kinetochores.
See also: JJE van Hooff et al (September 2017)
A study in this issue provides a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of kinetochore composition across phylogenetically diverse eukaryotes using comparative genomics, providing new insights into the origins, function, and flexibility of eukaryotic kinetochores.
- © 2017 The Authors
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