A new theory of molecular evolution

Evolutionary biologist Jianzhi Zhang
Photo Credit: Courtesy of University of Michigan

For a long time, evolutionary biologists have thought that the genetic mutations that drive the evolution of genes and proteins are largely neutral: they’re neither good nor bad, but just ordinary enough to slip through the notice of selection.

Now, a University of Michigan study has flipped that theory on its head.

In the process of evolution, mutations occur which can then become fixed, meaning that every individual in the population carries that mutation. A longstanding theory, called the Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution, posits that most genetic mutations that are fixed are neutral. Bad mutations will be quickly discarded by selection, according to the theory, which also assumes that good mutations are so rare that most fixations will be neutral, says evolutionary biologist Jianzhi Zhang.

The U-M study, led by Zhang, aimed to examine whether this was true. The researchers found that so many good mutations occurred that the Neutral Theory cannot hold. At the same time, they found that the rate of fixations is too low for the large number of beneficial mutations that Zhang’s team observed.

To resolve this, the researchers suggest that mutations that are beneficial in one environment may become harmful in another environment. These beneficial mutations may not become fixed because of frequent environmental changes. The study, supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, was published in Nature Ecology and Evolution.

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Image Credit: Courtesy of Firetrust Limited

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Ecology: In-Depth Description

Photo Credit: Глеб Коровко

Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions between living organisms and their environment, including both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components. Its primary goals are to understand the principles governing the distribution, abundance, and relationships of organisms, as well as the flow of energy and materials within ecosystems.

Earth Science: In-Depth Description

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Earth Science is the comprehensive study of the planet Earth, encompassing its physical composition, structure, the processes that shape it, and its history. Its primary goal is to understand the complex, integrated systems of our planet—including its solid land (lithosphere), water (hydrosphere), air (atmosphere), and life (biosphere)—and how they interact, change over time, and affect human life.

Conservation: In-Depth Description

Photo Credit: Tomáš Malík

Conservation is the scientific discipline and practice dedicated to the protection, management, and restoration of Earth's biological diversity—including species, their habitats, and ecosystems—to prevent their decline, extinction, and degradation, while ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources. The primary goals of conservation are to maintain the planet's ecological health, preserve evolutionary processes, and secure the vital ecosystem services upon which all life, including humanity, depends.

Computer Science: In-Depth Description

Photo Credit: Massimo Botturi

Computer Science is the systematic study of computation, information, and automation, focusing on algorithmic processes, computational machines, and their application. Its primary goals are to understand the theoretical foundations of what can be computed, to design and implement hardware and software systems for processing information, and to apply computational thinking to solve complex problems across all domains of human endeavor.

Chemistry: In-Depth Description

Photo Credit: Artem Podrez

Chemistry is the scientific discipline dedicated to the study of matter—its composition, properties, structure, and the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions, as well as the energy that is released or absorbed during these processes. The primary goal of chemistry is to understand the behavior of matter at the atomic and molecular level and to use this understanding to discover, create, and manipulate new substances and processes.

What Is: Narcissism | Part one of the "Dark Tetrad"

Image Credit: Scientific Frontline / AI generated

The term "narcissism" is one of the most frequently deployed yet widely misunderstood concepts in the modern psychological lexicon. Rooted in the Greek myth of Narcissus—the youth who fell in love with his own reflection—its popular use is often pejorative, synonymous with simple vanity or selfishness. In clinical and research contexts, however, the construct is far more complex. Narcissism is not a binary attribute but a self-centered personality style that exists on a continuum, ranging from normal and adaptive traits at one end to a severe, pathological personality disorder at the other. 

UH calculates survival needs of deep-diving Hawaiian pilot whales

An aerial view of Hawaiʻi short-finned pilot whales at the surface.
Photo Credit: HIMB Marine Mammal Research Program

For the first time, scientists have calculated a detailed “energetic budget” for Hawaiʻi‘s short-finned pilot whales, revealing what it takes to power their extreme, 800-meter (2,600-feet) dives for food.

A new study led by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) found an average adult whale must eat 142 squid daily to survive, scaling up to 416 million squid annually for the entire population of short-finned pilot whales. This data, published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, provides a new benchmark for protecting the historically understudied marine mammals.

“Pilot whales are one of the only oceanic dolphins that regularly dive to extreme depths—up to 1,000 meters—to find prey,” said William Gough, Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) postdoctoral researcher and lead author of the study. “This deep-diving, high-risk foraging strategy requires a delicate balance between the energy they spend and the energy they acquire. Our study is the first step in quantifying that balance for this specific population.”

Severe impact of avian flu on southern elephant seals

Elephant seals on Lagoon Island near Ryder Bay, Adelaide Island.
Photo Credit: Steve Gibbs, BAS

New research reveals 47% decline in breeding female elephant seals at sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia following a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak. 

Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have documented the severe impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on southern elephant seals at South Georgia, revealing a 47% decline in breeding females between 2022 and 2024. 

The research, published today in the journal Communications Biology, shows that the world’s largest population of southern elephant seals – which accounts for over half of the global population of breeding age – has suffered unprecedented losses following the arrival of HPAI H5N1 at the remote sub-Antarctic island in late 2023.