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TOPICS:EvolutionExtinctionGeneticsTrinity College Dublin

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By TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN JUNE 13, 2023

Why Do Some Species Survive Mass Extinctions? Hidden “Whole Genome Duplication” May Be the Secret

Geneticists discovered a past whole genome duplication (WGD) event in the common ancestor of sturgeons and paddlefish that occurred just before a significant mass extinction, potentially providing these species with advantageous genetic variations. This discovery also raises the possibility of similar overlooked WGDs in other species’ lineages, which might have contributed to survival during periods of extreme environmental changes.

Geneticists have made a significant discovery about the ancient history of sturgeons and paddlefish, which carries profound implications for our understanding of evolution. They identified a previously hidden instance of “whole genome duplication” (WGD) in the shared ancestor of thesespecies, an event that appears to have facilitated genetic variations that may have provided an edge during a severe mass extinction event around…