Geneticists discover hidden 'whole genome duplication' that may explain why some species survived mass extinctions
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 - 11:53
in Paleontology & Archaeology
Geneticists have unearthed a major event in the ancient history of sturgeons and paddlefish that has significant implications for the way we understand evolution. They have pinpointed a previously hidden "whole genome duplication" (WGD) in the common ancestor of these species, which seemingly opened the door to genetic variations that may have conferred an advantage around the time of a major mass extinction some 200 million years ago.