Model offers insight into how life continues to evolve
November 8, 2016 by Lisa Zyga feature
In the new model of evolution, polymers can form new polymers of different lengths via an enzymatic ligation process, as shown here. Credit: Worst et al. ©2016 IOP Publishing
(Phys.org)—One of the most puzzling things about evolution is that, even after 4 billion years, it hasn't stopped. Instead of culminating in a single best adapted species, today the Earth contains an estimated 8.7 million different species, all of which will one day die out as a variety of new species takes their places.
Although scientists have tried to model these evolutionary dynamics in the lab, such as by using systems of molecules that change over time in some way, most of these models eventually generate a single dominant species and then come to a standstill. Scientists still don't completely understand how evolution continues to generate new species, which is known to occur even in the absence of changing external pressures.
Now in a new study, a team of physicists has developed a theoretical and experimental model of evolution that continues without end, even under constant external conditions. The model may help scientists better understand how the biosphere continues to evolve over billions of years.
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2016-11-insight-life-evolve.html#jCp
November 8, 2016 by Lisa Zyga feature
In the new model of evolution, polymers can form new polymers of different lengths via an enzymatic ligation process, as shown here. Credit: Worst et al. ©2016 IOP Publishing
(Phys.org)—One of the most puzzling things about evolution is that, even after 4 billion years, it hasn't stopped. Instead of culminating in a single best adapted species, today the Earth contains an estimated 8.7 million different species, all of which will one day die out as a variety of new species takes their places.
Although scientists have tried to model these evolutionary dynamics in the lab, such as by using systems of molecules that change over time in some way, most of these models eventually generate a single dominant species and then come to a standstill. Scientists still don't completely understand how evolution continues to generate new species, which is known to occur even in the absence of changing external pressures.
Now in a new study, a team of physicists has developed a theoretical and experimental model of evolution that continues without end, even under constant external conditions. The model may help scientists better understand how the biosphere continues to evolve over billions of years.
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2016-11-insight-life-evolve.html#jCp