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Hot Topic
Origins
Origin & Evolution of Life
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Dinosaurs Benefited from Mass Extinction
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| Topic: Origin & Evolution of Life |
10/08/10 |
| A newly discovered species of dinosaur may show that dinosaurs spread throughout the world by taking advantage of a natural catastrophe that wiped out their competitors. The study provides an example of how extinction events have shaped the evolution of Earth's biosphere. |
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Stepping Stones through Time
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| Topic: Origin & Evolution of Life |
10/04/10 |
| Stromatolites are the most ancient fossils on Earth, and these structures built by microbes can still be found forming today in various places around the globe. Although they provide a straight line of life´s history from the past to the present, comparing modern and ancient stromatolites is not a straight-forward endeavor. |
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Innovative Solution to the Evolution of Form Proposed
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| Topic: Origin & Evolution of Life |
09/25/10 |
| A new paper published in the International Journal of Astrobiology is providing a unique account of the origin of forms in plant and animal body plans. The model is not based on genetic code or natural selection, and could provide new insights into the origin and evolution of life on our planet. |
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Metals Needed for Life's Origin
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| Topic: Origin & Evolution of Life |
09/10/10 |
| Scientists have proposed a new potential catalyst for jump-starting metabolism, and life itself, on the early Earth. Transition metals like iron, copper and nickel along with small organic molecules could have catalyzed the synthesis of life's building blocks deep in the oceans around hydrothermal vents. |
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The Mother of All Humans
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| Topic: Origin & Evolution of Life |
08/20/10 |
| Scientists have performed the most robust statistical examination to date of our genetic links to the maternal ancestor of all living humans. The study could help scientists understand the history of life on Earth and some of the mechanisms behind evolution. |
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Animals Appeared Even Earlier
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| Topic: Origin & Evolution of Life |
08/18/10 |
| Scientists may have discovered the oldest fossils of animal bodies, pushing back the clock on when animal life appeared on Earth. The finding could yield new clues about the evolution of life on our planet. |
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Peeking between the Sheets for Life's Origin
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| Topic: Origin & Evolution of Life |
08/08/10 |
| Scientists may have a new answer to the question, "where did life on Earth start?" Research shows that life could have originated between sheets of mica that were layers like the pages in a book. Understanding the origin of life is a key goal of astrobiology. |
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Sponge Reveals Animal Origins
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| Topic: Origin & Evolution of Life |
08/07/10 |
| A simple sponge is revealing mysteries about the evolution of life on Earth. Scientists have sequenced the genome of a sponge from Australia. The information is now helping biologists search for DNA sequences shared by multicellular animals. |
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The Blob from the Past
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| Topic: Origin & Evolution of Life |
08/06/10 |
| Scientists have used a 3D computer model to reveal a unique, blob-like creature that lived in the oceans approximately 425 million years ago. The previously unknown, primitive creature provides insight into the evolution of life on Earth. |
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Clues to Life's Shift from Simple to Complex
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| Topic: Origin & Evolution of Life |
07/13/10 |
| A new study shows that the transition from unicellular to multicelluar organisms may not have been as difficult as previously thought. The evolution of multicelluar organisms was one of the most pivotal steps in the history of life on Earth. |
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