Evolution & Behaviour
Feisty fish and birds with attitude: Why does evolution not lead to identical individuals?
“Survival of the fittest” is synonymous with adaptive evolution. This catchy phrase suggests that all individuals within a population become identical over time by developing “THE fittest” heritable traits. Yet, in nature, we observe many differences between individuals. For example, sticklebacks (tiny fish) in the... click to read more
Is evolution predictable?
RNA molecules are one of the key biomolecules of life as they appear in organisms as catalysts, building blocks, and information carriers. RNA is made up of sequences of chemical `letters’ called nucleotides, similar to the chemicals that make up DNA sequences. RNA sequences can... click to read more
Rudimentary form of syntax present in chimpanzees
Our language-based complex communication system is one of the defining features that makes us unique among all species. Syntax -combining words together into phrases- makes language-based communication limitless in terms of the amount and type of information we can communicate about. This is due to... click to read more
An incredibly massive ancient whale skeleton reveals a new way to become a giant
Which animal is the largest? The fastest? The most ferocious? These are some of the first topics in natural sciences to be discussed between children. These should not be considered as trivial, as they often lead to relevant questions about how, when, and why such... click to read more
Vikings and Migrants: Unravelling Scandinavia's Genetic Mosaic in the Viking Era
We recently published a study in Cell that reveals that the Viking period, spanning from the late 8th to mid-11th century, saw a massive influx of people into Scandinavia. Interestingly, later Scandinavians don't have as much ancestry from other places from outside Scandinavia as their... click to read more
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