The Fish Evolution Forgot

The coelacanth, discovered alive in 1938 after being thought extinct for 66 million years, is more than just a living fossil. Modern genomic sequencing reveals its DNA is a true evolutionary time capsule. Research led by the Broad Institute in 2013 showed that the coelacanth's protein-coding genes evolve at a rate roughly one-third that of mammals, making it the slowest-evolving vertebrate genome known. This genetic stasis means the fish retains ancestral features lost in other lineages, offering a unique glimpse into the biology of the ancient lobe-finned fish that gave rise to all land vertebrates. Sources: Broad Institute (2013) 'The African coelacanth genome provides insights into tetrapod evolution', Nature 496; American Museum of Natural History archives on the 1938 discovery by Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer.

#shorts #coelacanth #evolution #genetics #living fossil #biology #deep sea #science

Видео The Fish Evolution Forgot канала definitelynotAI