https://evobites.blog/writing-for-us/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/screen-shot-2017-11-26-at-11-56-42-pm-e1511758701554.pngGoogle Drive sharing2024-04-08T00:21:39+00:00weekly0.6https://evobites.blog/authors/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/nikki-pic.jpgNikki pichttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/alexa-pic.jpgAlexa pichttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/michelle-pic.jpgMichelle Pichttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/catherine-chen.jpgCatherine Chenhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/emily-pic-for-evobites.jpgEmilyhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/catherine-pic.jpgCatherine in Baja, Mexico2022-09-24T16:19:35+00:00weekly0.6https://evobites.blog/2022/07/16/red-in-tooth-and-claw-primate-color-vision-evolved-to-see-red-when-there-was-a-shortage-of-fruit/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/rspb20192731f01.jpgrspb20192731f01https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/pone.0084872.g001.pngpone.0084872.g0012022-07-16T22:34:31+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/past-contributors/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/muralidhar_pavitra.jpgMuralidhar_PavitraPavitra Muralidhar, contributor from Harvard Universityhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/laslo_photo.jpgMara LasloMara Laslo, contributor from Harvard University https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/corbett_photo.jpgCorbett_photoRuss Corbett-Detig, contributor from University of California at Berkleyhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/povilus_photo.jpgBecky PovilusBecky Povilus, contributor from Harvard Universityhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/cunha_photo.jpgCunha_photoTauana Junqueira Cunha, contributor from Harvard Universityhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/boyle_photo.jpgJack Boyle in the fieldJack Boyle, contributor from Harvard University https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/maryam6.jpgMaryam Chaib de MaresMaryam Chaib de Mares, Contributor from University of Groningen, Netherlandshttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/grayson_photo1.jpgPhil Grayson, looking goodPhil Grayson, contributor from Harvard Universityhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/shultz_photo1.jpgShultz_photoAllison Shultz, contributor from Harvard Universityhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/shultz_photo.jpgAllison Shultz with a falcon!Allison Shultz, contributor from Harvard University2022-04-25T16:28:18+00:00weekly0.6https://evobites.blog/2021/03/09/embracing-differences-to-boost-anti-tumor-immunity-how-hla-diversity-can-improve-cancer-therapy/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/feature_hla-checkpoint-640x215-1.jpgfeature_HLA-checkpoint (640x215)2021-03-08T16:16:06+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2020/05/01/cystic-fibrosis/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cysticfibrosis02.pngCysticfibrosis02https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2926_autosomal_recessive_inheritance-new.jpg2926_autosomal_recessive_inheritance-newhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/screen-shot-2020-04-27-at-2.17.01-pm.pngScreen Shot 2020-04-27 at 2.17.01 PM2020-05-01T01:36:58+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2019/05/23/bring-on-the-heat/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/sayaca_tanager_feeding_on_malagueta_peppers.jpgSayaca_Tanager_feeding_on_malagueta_peppersPredation on peppers by birds may explain why not all peppers are spicy. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons.https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/agrilus_coxalis.jpgAgrilus_coxalisThe gold-spotted oak borer is one of the insects in the order Hemiptera that feed upon the wild peppers studied by the authors. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons.https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/tewksbury-figures-1-a-c.pngtewksbury figures 1 a-chttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/img_2505.jpgimg_2505Cayenne peppers harvested in Uttarakhand, India. Photo credit: Jordan Coscia.2019-05-23T01:02:46+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2019/05/10/global-birth-canal-variation-gives-insight-into-human-evolutionary-past-and-modern-obstetric-practices/2019-05-10T03:01:30+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2019/04/23/seeing-red-in-a-new-light/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/evobites-maratus-comparison-2-small.pngevobites maratus comparison 2 smallhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/malepeacockspider.jpgMaratus voltansA male Maratus voltans spider shows off his fan. Photo credit: Jürgen Otto.2019-04-23T02:18:06+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2019/01/07/beer-snowflakes-and-the-origins-of-life/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/beer_crop.jpghttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/platedynamics_edit.pngplatedynamics_edithttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/snowflakeyeast.jpgsnowflakeyeast2019-01-05T18:01:15+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2018/12/18/marine-mammals-and-the-legacy-of-gene-loss/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1920px-Dugong_marsa_alam_egypt_2011.jpg1920px-Dugong_marsa_alam_egypt_2011Coastal-dwelling dugongs and manatees are likely to be especially vulnerable to organophosphate pesticides, due to their non-functional PON1 gene. Photo Credit: Camille Menard, Wikimedia Commons. https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/1920px-North_Pacific_right_whale_28Eubalaena_japonica29_-_John_Durban_28NOAA29.jpg1920px-North_Pacific_right_whale_28Eubalaena_japonica29_-_John_Durban_28NOAA29North Pacific Right Whale. Photo credit: John Durban (Wikimedia Commons)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bc3a9bc3a9_phoque_de_weddell_-_baby_weddell_seal.jpgJuvenile Weddell SealPhoto Credit: https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/4_walross_2001.jpgWalrusWalruses, whales, and all other marine mammals are at risk from agricultural run-off due to ancient gene loss. Photo credit: Ansgar Walk, Wikimedia Commons. 2018-12-16T23:36:07+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2018/05/07/nectar-microbes-undercover-manipulators-of-flower-scent-and-pollinator-behavior/2018-12-11T20:09:02+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2018/08/03/if-you-talk-the-talk-youve-got-to-walk-the-walk-mimicry-of-ant-locomotion-in-jumping-spiders/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/myrmarachne-formicaria-male-2.jpgMyrmarachne formicariaChomp! Myrmarachne formicaria munching on a fruit-fly. Photo credit: Sarefo https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/34913873763_f9934293ac_b-e1533320799394.jpgParaphidippus aurantiusThis jumping spider species is not a mimic (Paraphidippus aurantius). Photo Credit: Sebastian Echeverrihttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/myrmarachne-formicaria-male-1.jpgMyrmarachne formicariaThis is the ant-mimicking jumping spider species Myrmarachne formicaria. Photo credit: Sarefo https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/jumping-spider-ant-mimic-e1533319260148.jpgJumping spider ant mimicThis spider mimics the appearance, and gait, of an ant. Notice how its first body segment is shaped to appear like two! Photo Credit: Sebastian Echeverri2018-12-11T20:07:40+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/application/2018-12-10T15:26:24+00:00weekly0.6https://evobites.blog/2018/12/04/lessons-from-the-urban-pigeon/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1920px-columba_livia_03-e1543862019679.jpgUrban pigeonSpeckled, striped, barred: the genes of pigeon wing coloration demonstrate how basic questions can have implications for human health. Photo Credit: Christian Jansky, Wikimedia Commonshttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/evobites_weiner_pigeon.pngEvoBites_Weiner_pigeon2018-12-03T19:10:08+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2018/11/21/new-firefly-breeding-patterns-light-the-way-for-changes-in-color-vision/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1455098-e1542727968565.jpgPhotorius sp.Fireflies have special light emitting organs on their abdomens, used for producing species-specific glows. Photo credit: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.orghttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/5512175.jpgCommon Eastern FireflyFireflies are a family of beetles. Photo Credit: Kansas Department of Agriculturehttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/5423813.jpgCommon eastern fireflyDifferent species of fireflies vary in the color of the light they produce, but haven't evolved opsins to help them detect colors specific to their own species. Photo Credit: Jessica Louque, Smithers Viscient, Bugwood.orghttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/5440440-e1542239603758.jpgFirefly Take-offFire-flies use their flashes to send signals to other bugs, including to potential mates. Photo Credit: Jon Yuschock2018-11-21T21:00:13+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2018/09/04/strength-in-numbers-extra-copies-of-the-tp53-gene-helps-elephants-fight-cancer/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/image-from-ios-3.jpgImage from iOS-3Elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild. Photo credit: Grace Davishttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/image-from-ios.jpgImage from iOSElephants live in family groups led by a matriarch, which means grandma rules the roost. Photo credit: Grace Davishttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/image-from-ios-1.jpgTwo ElephantsElephants are some of the longest living animals on the planet, resulting in some unique genetic adaptations. Photo credit: Grace Davishttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/image-from-ios-2.jpgImage from iOS-2African elephant males can be over 13ft tall! Photo credit: Grace Davis2018-09-04T13:19:02+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2018/06/21/manipulation-in-chimpanzee-copulation-calls/2018-06-24T11:14:32+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/for-contributors/2018-03-27T14:47:04+00:00weekly0.6https://evobites.blog/2018/03/08/im-looking-at-the-fish-in-the-mirror-a-tail-of-social-signaling/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/cichlid2-19.pngcichlid2.19The facial stripe of a Princess of Burundi cichlid (Neolamprologus brichardi). Image from Wikimedia commons.https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/peacock2-19.pngPeacock2.19A male peacock displaying his iridescent feathers. Image from Wikimedia commons.https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/cichlid.pngcichlidhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/peacock2.pngPeacock2https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/peacock.pngPeacock2018-03-08T22:53:42+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2018/01/16/tiny-chompers/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cichlids.jpgcichlidshttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cichlid_jaws.jpgcichlid_jaws2018-01-16T21:56:02+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2017/11/27/why-the-horned-lizard-has-horns/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/shrike-combined-pic1.jpgShrike combined pichttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/7421150358_2935ef1206_c.jpgFlat-tailed horned lizardA flat-tailed horned lizard. Photo by Californiadfg on Flickr.https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/shrike-combined-pic.jpgLoggerhead shrike and preyLeft: A loggerhead shrike eating prey off of barbed wire. Right: A lizard that fell prey to a shrike. Both images from Wikimedia commons.2021-03-12T00:13:24+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2017/10/17/love-stings/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/polistes-dominulus-e1508271690316.jpgPolistes-dominulusImage from Wikipedia commons.https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/img_9115-e1508273119679.jpgPainting wasp spotsPainting male wasps' spots. Photo by Emily Laub.https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wasp-e1508208513580.jpgMale Polistes dominulus waspA Polistes dominulus male. Note the yellow abdominal spots. This male has fairly defined and symmetrical spots, with some blurring on the edges, would be considered middle of the road sexiness. Image from Wikipedia commons.2017-10-17T20:58:11+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2015/08/05/bat_echolocation_sexual_selection/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/mehelys-horseshoe-bat-feature.jpgMehelys-horseshoe-bat-in-flight_featureBy F. C. Robiller / naturlichter.de (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commonshttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/mehelys-horseshoe-bat-in-flight-e1430616479195.jpgMehelys-horseshoe-bat-in-flightBy F. C. Robiller / naturlichter.de (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commonshttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/rhinolophus_mehelyi.jpgRhinolophus_mehelyiMehelyi's horseshoe bathttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/puechmaille_fig_1.pngPuechmaille et al. (2014) Figure 1The experimental setup of the mate choice trials. The authors randomized the call assigned to each speaker, and recorded which compartment the bat flew into for every trial. Adapted from Figure 1, Puechmaille et al. (2014).2017-10-17T20:43:19+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/about/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/1024px-tree_of_life_svg-svg.pngTree of LifeWhat does every branch of the Tree of Life have in common? An ancestor, of course! Play with this tree at the Interactive Tree of Life Project. https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/548px-tree_of_life_with_genome_size-svg.pngThe *Real* Tree of LifeWhat does every branch of this tree have in common? An ancestor, of course! (Image by Ivica Letunic: Iletunic. Retraced by Mariana Ruiz Villarreal: via Wikimedia Commons)2017-10-15T16:25:46+00:00weekly0.6https://evobites.blog/2015/06/03/shultz_bird_genomes/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2047-217x-3-32-1.jpg2047-217X-3-32-1Figure 1 from O'Brien et al. (2014): http://www.gigasciencejournal.com/content/3/1/32https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/darwin_bird_collage.jpgDarwin_bird_collageFigure 1 from O'Brien et al. (2014)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/shultz_toothed_skeletons.jpgShultz_toothed_skeletonshttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/kertains_figure.jpgkertains_figurehttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ichthyornis_skeleton.jpgIchthyornis_skeletonhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/hesperornis_regalis_1.jpgHesperornis_regalis_(1)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/shultz_parrots.pngParrotsParrots like this Iris Lorikeet, hummingbirds like this Costa’s Hummingbird and songbirds like this Blue-necked Tanager are three lineages of birds that can all learn songs and sounds. Photos taken by Allison Shultz.2015-08-05T18:38:14+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2015/04/08/laslo_external_genitalia/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/tiktaalik_roseae_life_restor.jpgTiktaalik_roseae_life_restorAn illustration of Tiktaalik, a famous fossil from the Devonian period, the time of the transition to land. (Image by Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation (Courtesy: National Science Foundation), via Wikimedia Commons)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/tschopp_fig_1.jpgTschopp et al. (2014) Figure 1Figure 2. Determining which part of the embryo becomes the genitalia. Labeling early limb cells (green) in the mouse and tracking the labeled cells over development shows the label in the limbs, but not the genitalia (a, b). After labeling the mouse tail bud, however, labeled cells are found in the genitalia (c). Two cell populations develop into the genitals in chickens (d, e, f), whether the early limb or tail bud is labeled. Labeling the anole early limb cells labels both the hemipenes and the limb (g, h), while after labeling only the tail bud, there are no labeled cells in the hemipenes. https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/hemipenes-e1428438486672.pngTschopp et al. (2014) Figure 12015-06-03T22:59:11+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2015/02/25/_povilus_floraldevelopment/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/povilus_abc_corrected.jpgThe ABC ModelFigure by Becky Povilushttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/figure-5_with-caption_v2.jpgYockteng et al. (2013), Figure 5Figure 5 from Yockteng et al. (2013)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/povilus_figure-5_with-caption.jpgPovilus_figure 5_with captionFigure 5 from Yockteng et al. (2013)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/povilus_musa1.jpgA Banana (Musa sp.) FlowerPovilus_MusaThis banana flower (Musa sp.) is just one example of the hyperdiverse Zingiberales flowers. How can flowers evolve to be so different and yet keep the same conserved developmental programs? (Image by Thelmadatter via Wikimedia Commons)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/povilus_musa-e1421849346169.jpgA Banana (Musa sp.) FlowerThis banana flower (Musa sp.) is just one example of the hyperdiverse Zingiberales flowers. How can flowers evolve to be so different and yet keep the same conserved developmental programs? (Image by Thelmadatter via Wikimedia Commons)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/povilus_strelitzia.jpgPovilus_StrelitziaThe bird of paradise (Strelitiza sp.) is just example of the hyperdiverse Zingiberales flowers. (Image by By Scott Bauer, USDA [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons).https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/povilus_figure_5.jpgFigure 5 from Yockteng et al. (2013) – A Summary of expression of E-type gene copies from floral organs in 5 different species of ZingiberalesThis complex figure shows, from right to left: 1) the phylogenetic tree of major groups within Zingiberales (complete with notes on when important floral features must have evolved), 2) circular floral diagrams (a short-hand that botanists use to note floral form), 3) and then finally the expression patterns of the 5 E-type gene copies of each floral organ of the 5 species that the authors examined. The earliest diverging group (Musaceae) has the least complex flower, while the more derived groups like Cannaceae and Costaceae have more types of floral organs and more complex flowers. The 3rd part of the figure shows diagrams of each of the floral organs present in each species that was sampled, as well as a colored bar that indicates whether each E-type gene copy is expressed there. Different colors indicate different copies. Which E-type gene copy is expressed in a particular organ varies enormously between different species, indicating that the gene family evolved independently in distinctly in different lineages within Zingiberales. https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/povilus_floral_development_abc.jpgPovilus_floral_development_ABChttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/povilus_zingiberlaes_flowers.jpgPovilus_zingiberlaes_flowersFlowers in the Zingiberles are particularly varied and diverse, possibly because of the duplication of the E-type genes. Images via Wikimedia Commons.2015-04-18T19:09:36+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2015/03/19/dog_domestication/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/skulls_cropped1.jpgskulls_cropped The bottom skull is from a wolf, Canis lupis, and the top skull is from a Chihuahua. Dogs are a powerful example of domestication-- one which we're still figuring out. (Image by Mccabe via Wikimedia.)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/skulls_cropped.jpgskulls_cropped The bottom skull is from a wolf, Canis lupis, and the top skull is from a Chihuahua. Dogs are a powerful example of domestication-- one which we're still figuring out. (Image by Mccabe via Wikimedia.)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/skulls_feature1.jpgskulls_featurehttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/skulls_feature.jpgskulls_feature The bottom skull is from a wolf, Canis lupis, and the top skull is from a Chihuahua. Dogs are a powerful example of domestication-- one which we're still figuring out. (Image by Mccabe via Wikimedia.)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/familia_canidae.jpgFamilia CanidaMajor extant canid genera left-to-right, top-to-bottom: Canis, Cuon, Lycaon, Cerdocyon, Chrysocyon, Speothos, Vulpes, Nyctereutes, Otocyon and Urocyon. (Image by Profberger via Wikipedia)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/iside_basenji.jpgIside_BasenjiThe Basenji, an "ancient" dog breed, was included in the analysis of dog and wolf genomes. (Image by fugzu via Wikimedia, originally Flickr Iside)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/skulls.jpgskulls The bottom skull is from a wolf, Canis lupis, and the top skull is from a Chihuahua. Dogs are a powerful example of domestication-- one which we're still figuring out. (Image by Mccabe via Wikimedia.)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/domestication-models.pngDomestication modelsFigure XXX. Three models evaluated by Freedman et al. (2014). In these models, the width of vertical segments indicates the population size at that point in time (y-axis is time going backward into the past starting from the present). The width of the horizontal line segments indicates the timing of gene flow between diverging populations, and the proportion of gene flow is indicated on these line segments. In the first model, dogs and wolves diverged from a large ancestral population, and then each group’s population size is strongly reduced. After population sizes recover again, there is a varying amount of gene flow between the now divergent populations. 2015-05-02T19:04:26+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2015/02/25/real-life-rock-paper-scissors/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/rock-paper-scissors_banner1.pngRock-paper-scissors_bannerOriginal work by Enzoklop via Wikimediahttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/rock-paper-scissors_banner-e1424839630891.pngRock-paper-scissors_bannerhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1000px-rock-paper-scissors_canvas-e1424838881266.png1000px-Rock-paper-scissors_canvashttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/scr_rock-paper-scissors-e1421858244747.pngStatic plateWhen Toxic (Colicin), Sensitive, and Colicin-Resistanthttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/1000px-rock-paper-scissors.png1000px-Rock-paper-scissorsBy Enzoklop via Wikimedia Commons2015-03-20T17:48:31+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2014/11/10/chaib_evolution_viral_life/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/chaib_evolutionaryvirallife_bacteriophages_large-e1415842120976.jpgChaib_EvolutionaryViralLife_bacteriophages_large(Image by Dr Graham Beards via Wikimedia)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/chaib_evolutionaryvirallife_bacteriophages_banner.jpgChaib_EvolutionaryViralLife_bacteriophages_bannerhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/chaib_evolutionaryvirallife_bacteriophages_intext.jpgChaib_EvolutionaryViralLife_bacteriophages_intexthttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/chaib_evolutionaryvirallife_bacteriophages_banner.jpgChaib_EvolutionaryViralLife_bacteriophages_bannerhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/chaib_evolutionaryvirallife_fig1b.jpgFigure1_V10The different virion morphologies (virus shapes) found in the three domains of life, Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Corresponds to Fig. 1(B) in Nasir et al. (2014). https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/chaib_evolutionaryvirallife_fig1a.jpgChaib_EvolutionaryViralLife_Fig1APie-charts show the abundance of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), dsRNA, ssRNA(+) and ssRNA(−), where + and – refer to the orientation of the strand relative to coding DNA, and retrotranscribing viruses in Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya, and within the major eukaryal divisions. Corresponds to Figure 1(A) in Nasir et al. (2014).https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/chaib_silex_spring_archaea.jpgChaib_Silex_spring_archaeaThe steaming waters of Silex Spring in Yellowstone National Park are just right for heat-loving Archaea. Their preference for high temperatures may explain why no one has ever found an RNA virus that infects Archaea. https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/chaib_evolutionaryvirallife_fig11.jpgFigure1_V10Figure 1. Pie-charts describe the abundance of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), dsRNA, ssRNA(+) and ssRNA(−), where + and – refer to the orientation of the strand relative to coding DNA, and retrotranscribing viruses in Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya, and within the major eukaryal divisions. Corresponds to Figure 1(A) in Nasir et al.3 (2014).https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/chaib_evolutionaryvirallife_fig1.jpgFigure1_V102017-03-01T21:11:36+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2014/12/13/cunha_spider_webs/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/argiope_sp_cropped.jpgArgiope_sp_croppedA typical orb-weaving spider (this one is in the genus Agriope) sits atop her magnificent web. Amazingly, similar web-weaving behaviors have evolved independently in different spider lineages. (Image by Muhammad Mahdi Karim (www.micro2macro.net) via Wikimedia Commons)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/512px-argiope_sp.jpg512px-Argiope_spA typical orb-weaving spider (this one is in the genus Agriope) sits atop her magnificent web. Amazingly, similar web-weaving behaviors have evolved independently in different spider lineages. (Image by Muhammad Mahdi Karim (www.micro2macro.net) via Wikimedia Commons)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/fig2.jpgfig2https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/fig1.jpgCunha_spider_webs_fig1Figure 1. Spider representatives from different groups. (A) Tarantula Haplopelma lividum (Mygalomorphae) with eggsac (West 2014, with permission). (B) Jumping spider (RTA group) (Anker 2010, with permission) (C) Typical orb weaver Argiope sp. (Araneoidea) (Gallice 2012 Wikimedia). (D) Hackled orb weaver (Deinopoidea) (Anker 2011, with permission).2015-08-01T22:44:22+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2014/10/26/boyle_ambrosia_beetles/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/boyle_xyleborus_saxeseni_imago1-e1418067333761.jpgBoyle_Xyleborus_saxeseni_Imagohttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/xyleborus_saxeseni_vorderhc3bcften_und_kopf.jpgXyleborus_saxeseni_Vorderhüften_und_Kopfhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/xyleborus-saxeseni-n.jpgXyleborus-saxeseni-nhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/boyle_xyleborus_saxeseni_close-up.jpgBoyle_Xyleborus_saxeseni_close-upXyleborus saxesenii, an ambrosia beetle. (Photos by Fdcgoeul via Wikimedia Commons)https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/boyle_ambrosiabeetles_figure1.jpgBoyle_ambrosiabeetles_Figure.Biedermann and Taborsky observed ambrosia beetles in artificial burrows, quantifying how much time they spent engaged in 11 different behaviors, 6 of which are shown here. In this way they showed that different life stages of the beetle performed different tasks. “Teneral” refers to adults which recently molted and therefore have soft and pale exoskeletons. Larvae spent most of their time “digging”—their term for excavating the burrow in which the colony lived—and “balling,” or collecting excrement and other trash into compact balls. These balls are then removed by “shuffling” them out of the nest, a task performed by larvae and adult females. Adult females also spend their time “cropping,” or cultivating the fungus, and “blocking,” or guarding the nest entrance. All life stages, but particularly adult males, perform “allogrooming,” which simply means grooming another individual. In this case, grooming involves cleaning off the food fungus, which grows not just on the wood, but on the beetles as well. If not cut back occasionally, the fungus can overgrow and kill the beetles, which is prevented by this allogrooming.2014-12-15T01:24:07+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2014/10/25/shultz_polar_bear/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/shultz_polarbear_pictures.jpgShultz_PolarBear_picturesAllison Shultz, contributor Harvard Universityhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/polar-bear.jpgpolar bearhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/brown-bear1.jpgBrown bearHow long ago did the polar bear diverge from the brown bear lineage? And what, besides the color of their fur, has changed?https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/brown-bear.jpgBrown bear2014-11-25T01:56:38+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blog/2014/10/25/grayson_birdphylogeny/https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/grayson_birdphylogeny_pictures.jpgGrayson_BirdPhylogeny_picturesPhil Grayson, contributor Harvard Universityhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/grayson_birdphylogeny_tinamou.jpgGrayson_BirdPhylogeny_Tinamouhttps://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/grayson_birdphylogeny_fig2.pngGrayson_BirdPhylogeny_Fig2Figure 2. Palaeognathae phylogeny as presented in Baker et al. (2014). This tree was created using 27 nuclear genes and 21 retroelements in Haddrath & Baker (2012) and has had 8 retroelement insertions mapped to it to indicate further support for the moa-tinamou clade.https://evobites.blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/grayson_birdphylogeny_fig1.pngGrayson_BirdPhylogeny_Fig1Figure 1. Palaeognathae phylogeny as proposed by Mitchell et al. (2014). This tree was constructed using mtDNA. Branch support is given by Bayesian posterior probabilities and maximum likelihood bootstraps, with branches given maximum support are starred (*).2016-08-10T16:06:11+00:00monthlyhttps://evobites.blogdaily1.02024-04-08T00:21:39+00:00