389 papers
Evolutionary biology explores the dynamic history of life on Earth, tracing how species change, adapt, and diversify over time. This field investigates the mechanisms driving everything from the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria to the complex social behaviors of primates, revealing the deep connections that bind all living organisms together.
On Gist.Science, we ensure these groundbreaking discoveries remain accessible by processing every new preprint uploaded to bioRxiv in this category. Our team generates both plain-language overviews and detailed technical summaries for each paper, bridging the gap between raw research and public understanding without requiring a specialized background.
Below are the latest studies in evolutionary biology, offering fresh insights into the ongoing story of life.
By generating chromosome-level genomes and integrating multi-omics analyses, this study reveals how *Stemona* species evolved distinct fatty acid partitioning mechanisms between elaiosomes and seeds to produce specific attractants and nutrients that facilitate the transition from ant- to wasp-mediated seed dispersal.
This global study demonstrates that publicly available single-locus genetic data can effectively map bat phylogenetic diversity and reveals that historical and current temperature variables are the primary drivers of these patterns, with Southeast Asia and South America identified as key hotspots for conservation.
Using population-genetic models, this study demonstrates that even weak sexual antagonism dramatically accelerates the evolution of recombination suppression on sex chromosomes compared to neutrality, with mating systems and the genomic origin of suppressors (heterogametic vs. homogametic) critically shaping the rate and direction of this evolutionary process in both XY and ZW systems.
This study introduces the Primate Genome-Phenome Archive (PGA), a comprehensive map linking protein-coding genomic variations to 263 complex traits across 224 primate species, thereby identifying thousands of gene-trait associations and lineage-specific adaptations through macroevolutionary analysis.
By leveraging the self-fertilizing mangrove rivulus (*Kryptolebias marmoratus*) to eliminate genetic variation, this study demonstrates that DNA methylation levels at 40 specific CpG sites predict chronological age with high accuracy, establishing a powerful model for isolating epigenetic aging from genetic effects.
This study employs a stochastic spatial model and global sensitivity analysis to evaluate how organism dispersal and payload fitness costs influence the probability of failure and spatial confinement of gene drives, revealing significant variability in drive performance that informs their suitability for specific applications.
This study identifies and characterizes a conserved allatostatin C neuropeptide system in the octopus *Octopus vulgaris*, revealing a single peptide that differentially activates two distinct receptors with broad tissue distribution, suggesting a critical role in sensory processing and nociception with significant implications for cephalopod welfare.
This study demonstrates that despite habitat degradation altering pollinator interactions, male-biased sexual selection persists in the dioecious plant *Silene dioica*, with anthropogenic environments specifically intensifying selection on male floral traits while maintaining consistent selection on female fertility-related traits.
This study demonstrates that independently cold-adapted PACMAD grasses exhibit a constrained, conserved protein-level response to freezing, particularly through the retention and structural optimization of LEA3 proteins, suggesting that functional freezing tolerance relies on ancestral protective mechanisms rather than lineage-specific innovations.
This study utilizes ancient metagenomic analysis of dental calculus from Pleistocene and modern reindeer to reconstruct their oral and digestive microbiomes and diets, revealing both long-term continuity in rumen adaptations and spatio-temporal shifts in microbial and dietary profiles driven by ecological differences between ancient France and contemporary Scandinavia.