A study in fruit flies suggests an internal genomic arms race may be driving rapid evolution in proteins that still perform an essential, unchanging job: protecting chromosome ends.

Researchers have discovered the oldest known example of a predator-prey “arms race,” based on their study of ancient fossils. This ancient predator-prey relationship took place 517 million years ago ...

A new study led by researchers at the American Museum of Natural History presents the oldest known example in the fossil record of an evolutionary arms race. These 517-million-year-old predator-prey ...

Examples of Lapworthella fasciculata shells (under scanning electron microscope) from the Mernmerna Formation, Flinders Ranges, South Australia, showing holes made by a perforating predator. Scale ...

Life’s most indispensable molecules are not the serene, unchanging fixtures they might appear to be. Even the proteins that ...

(via PBS Terra) It’s grudge match time. Except that this one took place over millions of years, between two fierce and formidable enemies. It’s attack vs defence on an epic evolutionary scale.

The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research. How do new species arise? And why are there so many of them? One possible ...

For some, the rise of venomous elapid snakes was an almost apocalyptic catastrophe. For some, the rise and spread of venomous elapids was just another challenge to adapt to. For others, it was a ...

The Irish potato famine of 1845–52 resulted in more than a million deaths. Another million people were displaced, and Ireland’s population was reduced by about 25%. The cause of widespread potato rot ...

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Some lizards have evolved to be resistant to the venom of snakes, entering into a sort of evolutionary arms race with their limbless cousins. A family of lizards known as varanids has evolved ...

Clever birds figure out how to trick others into raising their kids A common Cuckoo chick in Reed Wablers nest waits to be fed with its mouth wide open, in this undated file photo. Getty Images — ...