The domestication of animals progresses gradually as wild animals' genomes evolve and they adapt to life in captivity. Such genetic changes may manifest themselves in how an animal looks, behaves, functions and reproduces. The most striking of these modifications is tameness, - a common feature... click to read more

Saiga, a central Asian antelope, known for their bizarre facial features and as a unique survivor of the Pleistocene, is facing a crisis. In May of 2015, when their population was finally recovering from poaching during the collapse of the Soviet Union, reaching a quarter... click to read more

Silk is a truly amazing fiber naturally produced by moths, caddisflies, some flies, ants, bees, and grasshoppers, as well as spiders. If you have seen a spider abseil from their web, you are familiar with dragline silk, one of several types of silk a spider... click to read more

The horse family, which includes horses, zebras, and donkeys, is more than 50 million years old. During its early years, members of this group were the size of dogs and had three toes. Over time, they became the large, one-toed animals we know today. But... click to read more

Why is there variation in the number of species between different groups of animals and plants? Why do some groups seem to be more "evolutionarily successful" with a higher number of species than other? For instance, there are over 10,000 species of birds but just... click to read more