Tag: Zoology
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Four Cheetah Cubs Born During Shutdown Shine on Smithsonian’s Cheetah Cub Cam
New Life in a Closed-Down Window The government shutdown that paused many routines didn’t stop nature at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia. Inside the animals’ den, four cheetah cubs were born and quickly became a focal point for observers tuning into the Cheetah Cub Cam. The live camera gives the public…
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Three-Legged Lizards Defy Evolution: Surprising Survivors Across the Globe
Introduction: An Unexpected Observation Biologists who study lizards chase fast, elusive prey and rely on a toolkit of careful observation and precise measurements. In our work across six continents, one discovery has flipped many assumptions: some lizards survive after losing a leg and can thrive in the wild. The moment a brown anole was captured…
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Chinese AI protein language model reveals secrets of evolution
Breakthrough uses AI to decode convergent evolution Experts in China have leveraged an artificial intelligence (AI) protein language model to shed light on one of biology’s most intriguing puzzles: convergent evolution. The study, reported by Xinhua News Agency—the state-run press agency with ties to TV BRICS—shows how distant species can arrive at similar adaptations when…
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AI Protein Language Model Unveils Secrets of Convergent Evolution
Overview A recent study by Chinese scientists demonstrates how artificial intelligence, specifically an AI protein language model, can illuminate one of biology’s perennial mysteries: convergent evolution. The team, led by Zou Zhengting from the Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, used a novel computational framework to show how distantly related species can…
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Rodent Thumb Nails: How Flat Nails Shape a Mammal Family
Flat Thumb Nails: The Tiny Tool That Changed Everything Rodents are the most diverse order of mammals, thriving from deserts to rainforests and cities. A new study based on the Field Museum archives suggests a tiny feature—the flat nail on the thumb—could help explain this global success. By surveying 433 species (out of roughly 522…
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How Fish Buttholes Influenced Human Finger Evolution
The Surprising Connection Between Fish and Human Fingers Recent research reveals a fascinating link between the evolutionary traits of fish and the development of human fingers. It turns out that the genetic mechanisms guiding the formation of our digits have roots in the anatomy of fish, specifically their cloacas. This study not only sheds light…