Article
Geology
Xu Dai, Dieter Korn, Haijun Song
Summary: Ammonoids suffered a diversity bottleneck during the Permian-Triassic mass extinction and rapidly diversified in the Early Triassic. The survivors of the extinction were mainly smooth and weakly ornamented forms, contrasting with the coarsely ornamented forms dominating before the extinction. The morphological shift from coarsely ornamented to smooth forms during the extinction possibly indicates an ecological turnover of ammonoids.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saisai Wang, Bo Gao, Csaba Miskey, Zhongxia Guan, Yatong Sang, Cai Chen, Xiaoyan Wang, Zoltan Ivics, Chengyi Song
Summary: The bioinformatics analysis suggests that PS transposons, belonging to the pogo superfamily, show signs of recent and current activity in animals and may be active in certain species. Cell-based transposition assays reveal that PS transposases from Gasterosteus aculeatus and Danio rerio have high activity in human cells. PS transposons exhibit a preference for integrating into genes and their regulatory regions. Furthermore, two human proteins derived from PS transposases have lost their transposition activity. Overall, PS transposons may serve as an alternative and efficient genetic manipulation tool for transgenesis and mutagenesis applications.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kate Trinajstic, John A. Long, Sophie Sanchez, Catherine A. Boisvert, Daniel Snitting, Paul Tafforeau, Vincent Dupret, Alice M. Clement, Peter D. Currie, Brett Roelofs, Joseph J. Bevitt, Michael S. Y. Lee, Per E. Ahlberg
Summary: This study reports the discovery of mineralized heart, thick-walled stomach, and bilobed liver in fossilized arthrodire fish from the Gogo Formation in Western Australia. Using advanced microtomography techniques, the researchers were able to examine the morphology of these organs, providing early evidence for the repositioning of the heart in jawed vertebrate evolution.
Article
Ecology
Genevieve Diedericks, Chris Broeckhoven, Sophie von der Heyden, Olaf L. F. Weyl, Cang Hui
Summary: Dispersal is a crucial trait for species persistence and diversification, especially in fluctuating environments like freshwater habitats. Directed dispersal allows species to adaptively modify their genetic and phenotypic variation in response to environmental changes. By studying smallmouth bass populations, researchers found a clear correlation between environmental variation and morphological traits.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Geology
Silvio Renesto, Fabio Magnani, Rudolf Stockar
Summary: A new species of the actinopterygian fish genus Saurichthys is described, found in the UNESCO World Heritage area of Monte San Giorgio. This new species shows unique characteristics in its fins and is closely related to the Saurorhynchus species group. The discovery contributes to our understanding of the plasticity and functional adaptations of the successful genus Saurichthys during the Triassic period.
RIVISTA ITALIANA DI PALEONTOLOGIA E STRATIGRAFIA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samuel Bekele Mengistu, Arjan P. Palstra, Han A. Mulder, John A. H. Benzie, Trong Quoc Trinh, Chantal Roozeboom, Hans Komen
Summary: The study showed that Nile tilapia's absolute U-crit has a high heritability, and fish with higher U-crit tend to grow slower in non-aerated ponds.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Horticulture
Guangxin Liu, Yue Lan, Lianwei Qu, Yilian Zhao, Haoyang Xin, Mengli Xi
Summary: Through our research on wild species and cultivars, we have clarified the genetic relationships between different sections of tulips, as well as the differences and variations in the 5S rDNA sequences. Our findings provide clearer and more stable evidence for the classification of tulips.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Fei Qi, Shuang Liang, Piyi Xing, Yinguang Bao, Richard R. -C. Wang, Xingfeng Li
Summary: This study used molecular cytogenetics to investigate the karyotype composition of intermediate wheatgrass and found variability in the karyotypes of different accessions. The researchers concluded that the chromosomes of intermediate wheatgrass mainly originated from Dasypyrum breviaristatum and the genus Pseudoroegneria.
Article
Ecology
Austin S. Wilcox, Isabelle M. Vea, W. Anthony Frankino, Alexander W. Shingleton
Summary: The study explores the genetic variation of scaling in Drosophila by examining individual scaling relationships and their distribution in response to nutrition-induced size variation. The results show extensive variation in the slopes of wing-body and leg-body scaling relationships among genotypes, with variation in body size plasticity playing a major role. This study provides insights into how selection regimes influence scaling in Drosophila and can help identify the genetic targets of such selection.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jerry Z. X. Lei, Martyn L. Golding, Jon M. Husson
Summary: Late Triassic conodont species Mockina ex gr. carinata and Mockina ex gr. englandi were prevalent in the marine fauna of the Panthalassan realm and underwent significant changes near the Triassic/Jurassic boundary. These changes may be linked to shifts in diet and the suppression of carbonate biomineralization.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jens Fullgrabe, Walraj S. S. Gosal, Paidi Creed, Sidong Liu, Casper K. K. Lumby, David J. J. Morley, Tobias W. B. Ost, Albert J. J. Vilella, Shirong Yu, Helen Bignell, Philippa Burns, Tom Charlesworth, Beiyuan Fu, Howerd Fordham, Nicolas J. J. Harding, Olga Gandelman, Paula Golder, Christopher Hodson, Mengjie Li, Marjana Lila, Yang Liu, Joanne Mason, Jason Mellad, Jack M. M. Monahan, Oliver Nentwich, Alexandra Palmer, Michael Steward, Minna Taipale, Audrey Vandomme, Rita Santo San-Bento, Ankita Singhal, Julia Vivian, Natalia Wojtowicz, Nathan Williams, Nicolas J. Walker, Nicola C. H. Wong, Gary N. N. Yalloway, Joanna D. D. Holbrook, Shankar Balasubramanian
Summary: DNA consists of genetic and epigenetic bases that hold molecular information crucial for understanding biology. Existing DNA sequencing methods only capture partial information regarding genetics or epigenetics. To overcome this limitation, we present a novel sequencing approach that simultaneously sequences complete genetic information and the two most common cytosine modifications. By copying and enzymatically converting DNA, a phased digital readout is obtained through the coupling of base decoding between the original and copy strand. This methodology has been successfully demonstrated on human genomic DNA and cancer patient blood samples, offering high accuracy, minimal DNA input requirement, and a simplified workflow and analysis pipeline. The simultaneous and phased reading of genetic and epigenetic bases enables a more comprehensive understanding of genome information, with numerous applications in biomedicine.
NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Shantanu Kundu, Flandrianto Sih Palimirmo, Hye-Eun Kang, Ah Ran Kim, Soo Rin Lee, Fantong Zealous Gietbong, Se Hyun Song, Hyun-Woo Kim
Summary: The present research enriches our understanding of mitogenomic genetic features, genetic diversity, evolutionary past, and conservation prerequisites of Psettodes flatfishes. The study focuses on the matrilineal evolutionary path of these primitive groups and highlights the role of hydrographic conditions, ocean currents, and ecological factors in shaping their evolutionary landscape. Given the potential consequences for conservation, this study emphasizes the necessity for a holistic comprehension of marine environments and the effects of climate change and human interventions on flatfish species.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manfred Schartl, Susanne Kneitz, Jenny Ormanns, Cornelia Schmidt, Jennifer L. Anderson, Angel Amores, Julian Catchen, Catherine Wilson, Dietmar Geiger, Kang Du, Mateo Garcia-Olazabal, Sudha Sudaram, Christoph Winkler, Rainer Hedrich, Wesley C. Warren, Ronald Walter, Axel Meyer, John H. Postlethwait
Summary: Sexual selection leads to the development of male ornaments such as the conspicuous extension of the caudal fin in swordtails, with the gene Kcnh8 playing a key role in sword development. This study reveals how a brain gene has been co-opted for a novel function in establishing a male ornament during the evolution of swordtails.
Article
Neurosciences
Loic Kever, Eric Parmentier, Andrew H. Bass, Boris P. Chagnaud
Summary: Mochokid catfish provide a unique opportunity to study a communication system transitioning, with some species producing sounds and others electric discharges. Despite differences in sound and electric signal production, the peripheral and central components of the ESS are conserved among mochokids. The ability of some species to produce both signals may depend on an intermediate protractor muscle morphology and two separate populations of protractor motoneurons.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Stephen L. Klobucar, Jessica A. Rick, Elizabeth G. Mandeville, Catherine E. Wagner, Phaedra Budy
Summary: Polymorphism in Arctic char populations facilitates coexistence of different morphs, with each lake group showing diverse morphological and genetic characteristics likely influenced by historical biogeography, water transparency, and fish density. Lakes with greater primary production and lower char densities have larger char, suggesting less intra-specific competition and resource limitation. These findings provide insights into the genomic characteristics of char populations in arctic Alaska and important considerations for their persistence under changing environmental conditions.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Paleontology
Aldo Benites-Palomino, Andres E. Reyes-Cespedes, Gabriel Aguirre-Fernandez, Rodolfo Sanchez, Jorge D. Carrillo-Briceno, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: A fossil skull from the middle Miocene period in the Caribbean region of Venezuela has been identified as a 'stem delphinidan' through phylogenetic analysis. Stem delphinidans exhibit a variety of taxonomic diversity but show some similarities in cranial patterning. This finding emphasizes the importance of the fossil record from the Neogene of Venezuela in understanding cetacean evolution in the proto-Caribbean.
SWISS JOURNAL OF PALAEONTOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Zoology
Evelyn Hueppi, Ingmar Werneburg, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: The chondrocrania morphology of birds is generally uniform in major features, with some variation in specific regions. Unique chondrocranial anatomy in certain bird species reflects their distinct adult skull shape. Differences in chondrification sequence can distinguish between different bird clades, with conservation seen in certain areas of the chondrocranium.
FRONTIERS IN ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Valentina Segura, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: There are 19 species of wild canids in the Americas that interact with humans in different ways, but none of these species have been domesticated. To successfully domesticate a canid species, it is necessary to have the biological attributes to facilitate the process and for the potential domesticator to have a worldview consistent with the practice.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gabriel Jorgewich-Cohen, Rafael S. Henrique, Pedro Henrique Dias, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: Optimal egg size theory suggests that changes in egg and clutch characteristics are driven by selection, aiming for the largest possible production of offspring with the highest fitness. Our study found that large-bodied turtles tend to produce larger clutches with small and round eggs, while smaller species produce small clutches with large and elongated eggs. We also observed inverse correlations between egg shape and size with clutch size, with different evolutionary rates. Additionally, there is evidence of convergence in reproductive strategies among different turtle lineages. Climatic zone and diet were identified as important ecological factors influencing egg and clutch traits among turtles.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Madeleine Geiger, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra, Emma Sherratt
Summary: Domestication leads to similar phenotypic characteristics across species, known as domestication syndrome. However, the existence of this syndrome has been debated due to a lack of evidence in many species. This study provides new evidence by examining cranial shape changes in rabbits. The results show differences in snout, teeth, and braincase between domesticated and wild rabbits, as well as more variation in neural crest-derived parts of the cranium. Although preliminary, this study adds to the growing evidence of nonuniform patterns associated with domestication.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Evolutionary Biology
Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Sirpa Nummela, Gabriel Aguirre-Fernandez, Kathleen K. Smith, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: We studied the growth trajectories of middle ear ossicles and tympanic membrane in gray short-tailed opossums and found that the malleus and incus have different growth patterns despite their shared evolutionary origin from branchial arch 1. The maturation of the middle ear is associated with improved hearing sensitivity at low and high frequencies.
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Alfredo A. Carlini, Jorge D. Carrillo-Briceno, Arturo Jaimes, Orangel Aguilera, Alfredo E. Zurita, Jose Iriarte, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: Muaco and Taima-Taima sites in Venezuela are early human occupation sites in South America, with artifacts and preserved megafaunal remains dating back to 19,810-15,780 years ago. This study presents new visual and CT scanning analysis of glyptodont skulls from these sites, revealing intentional fractures in the fronto-parietal region caused by direct human percussion. The technique targeted areas of thinner cephalic shield for greater impact. These findings suggest human-glyptodont interaction during the Late Pleistocene, with an estimated 150-170 kg of potential food sources from an adult Glyptotherium cylindricum.
SWISS JOURNAL OF PALAEONTOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Daniel Nunez-Leon, Hiroshi Nagashima, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: The study found variation in two specific structures of the chondrocranium during embryonic development and in adults, which may be an example of intraspecific variation under domestication.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Evolutionary Biology
Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Calum J. McKay, W. Patrick Luckett, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: This study thoroughly documented the dental development of pouch young Caluromys philander by studying a developmental series of ten individuals and using histological sections and 3D models. The study found that the successor P3 arises from a lingual successional lamina from its predecessor dP3, and the germs of vestigial deciduous incisors and canines are present alongside their permanent successors. These discoveries show unexpected diversity of dental ontogeny and highlight differences from previous studies on Didelphis and Monodelphis.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christophe Ronez, Jorge D. Carrillo-Briceno, Patricia Hadler, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra, Ulyses F. J. Pardinas
Summary: We report the first occurrence of Sigmodontinae from the Pliocene of northern South America, specifically from the San Gregorio Formation in northwestern Venezuela. The recovered isolated molars are identified as Oligoryzomys sp. and Zygodontomys sp., representing the oldest representatives of these genera and suggesting potential new species. These findings provide new evidence for the historical biogeography of sigmodontines and support the existence of an eastern corridor of open environments for dispersion in South America.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra, Mariano Bond, Marcelo Reguero, Tomas Bartoletti
Summary: Roth's explorations and scientific contributions hold significant importance in the global history of paleontology and Swiss migration history in Latin America. His discoveries include diverse megafauna, important paleontological sites and strata, and evidence of human coexistence with extinct fauna. His work at the Museo de La Plata established his reputation as a renowned scholar, and his efforts to attract Swiss nationals to Argentina for scientific research demonstrate his commitment to both his native country and the field of natural sciences.
SWISS JOURNAL OF PALAEONTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Jorge. D. D. Carrillo-Briceno, Raul I. Vezzosi, Keesha. M. M. Ming, Zoe. M. M. Christen, Dimila Mothe, Damian Ruiz-Ramoni, Marcelo. R. R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: This study describes and examines a collection of Nearctic ungulates from Pleistocene deposits in the Pampean region of Argentina. These fossils were collected in the nineteenth century by Santiago Roth and brought to Europe, where they are currently housed in the paleontological collections of the University of Zurich and the Natural History Museum of Geneva. Although the exact stratigraphic position of these fossils is often uncertain due to their age, this historical collection still holds value for taxonomic, palaeobiogeographical, and palaeobiological studies of the region's Pleistocene mammalian fauna.
SWISS JOURNAL OF PALAEONTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: Cross-cultural studies using methods from evolutionary biology and comparative linguistics are flourishing, with great potential to address questions of cultural transformation and human history. However, these studies are poorly integrated with core cultural anthropology. The comparative approach of Claude Levi-Strauss, searching for universals and documenting diversity, provides an example for cultural macroevolution studies. Integration with core anthropology would enhance the synergistic interaction of disciplines.
EVOLUTIONARY HUMAN SCIENCES
(2022)