Redefining the Mammalian Tree: How Genomes are Helping Us Rewrite Evolutionary History
In a groundbreaking study published this week in Nature, scientists have used the genomes of 100 mammals to redefine the mammalian family tree. This new tree reveals unexpected relationships among species and provides new insights into the evolution of mammals over the past 100 million years.
It’s long been known that mammals evolved from a common ancestor, but until now, the exact relationships between different species were not well understood. Now, thanks to the power of genomics, scientists are able to look at the DNA of 100 species and create a more accurate picture of the mammalian family tree. This new family tree reveals some surprising relationships between species, including the fact that horses and rhinoceroses are more closely related than horses and tapirs.
source: Phys.org