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ScienceQuiet 10d · day 12

Jumping genes linked to ant explosion after dinosaur-killing asteroid

Study of 163 ant species suggests transposable DNA elements fueled their diversification 66 million years ago.

newest coverage 10d agosummary written 9d ago9 pieces Google NewsNewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • An international study found that transposable elements ("jumping genes") surged in activity in major ant lineages approximately 66 million years ago, coinciding with their explosive diversification into modern species.
  • Ant lineages with the highest numbers of jumping genes correspond to those with the most species alive today, suggesting a direct link between genetic activity and evolutionary success.
  • Jumping genes may have facilitated expansion of genes responsible for odorant receptors, enhancing ants' chemical communication abilities essential to their complex social structures.
  • The research analyzed 163 ant species across 12 of 16 surviving ant subfamilies, providing broad genetic perspective on modern ant diversity.

“These receptors are essential to nearly every aspect of ant social behavior. Ants depend heavily on chemical cues to find their way through the environment, identify members of their own colonies, and coordinate activities with other ants.”

Science Daily, Publication · Science Daily ↗

Dr. Lukas Schrader Study lead, Institute for Evolution and BiodiversityInternational research team Researchers

Jumping genes linked to ant explosion after dinosaur-killing asteroid
Science Daily

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in 3h at Oct 27, 9 PM; 9 pieces over 12 days (8 articles · 1 post) Oct 27, 9 PM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Google News 2, Newswires 1Oct 28, 12 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 28, 3 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Oct 28, 6 AM — quietOct 28, 9 AM — quietOct 28, 12 PM — quietOct 28, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 28, 6 PM — quietOct 28, 9 PM — quietOct 29, 12 AM — quietOct 29, 3 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 29, 6 AM — quietOct 29, 9 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 29, 12 PM — quietOct 29, 3 PM — quietOct 29, 6 PM — quietOct 29, 9 PM — quietOct 30, 12 AM — quietOct 30, 3 AM — quietOct 30, 6 AM — quietOct 30, 9 AM — quietOct 30, 12 PM — quietOct 30, 3 PM — quietOct 30, 6 PM — quietOct 30, 9 PM — quietOct 31, 12 AM — quietOct 31, 3 AM — quietOct 31, 6 AM — quietOct 31, 9 AM — quietOct 31, 12 PM — quietOct 31, 3 PM — quietOct 31, 6 PM — quietOct 31, 9 PM — quietNov 1, 12 AM — quietNov 1, 2 AM — quietNov 1, 5 AM — quietNov 1, 8 AM — quietNov 1, 11 AM — quietNov 1, 2 PM — quietNov 1, 5 PM — quietNov 1, 8 PM — quietNov 1, 11 PM — quietNov 2, 2 AM — quietNov 2, 5 AM — quietNov 2, 8 AM — quietNov 2, 11 AM — quietNov 2, 2 PM — quietNov 2, 5 PM — quietNov 2, 8 PM — quietNov 2, 11 PM — quietNov 3, 2 AM — quietNov 3, 5 AM — quietNov 3, 8 AM — quietNov 3, 11 AM — quietNov 3, 2 PM — quietNov 3, 5 PM — quietNov 3, 8 PM — quietNov 3, 11 PM — quietNov 4, 2 AM — quietNov 4, 5 AM — quietNov 4, 8 AM — quietNov 4, 11 AM — quietNov 4, 2 PM — quietNov 4, 5 PM — quietNov 4, 8 PM — quietNov 4, 11 PM — quietNov 5, 2 AM — quietNov 5, 5 AM — quietNov 5, 8 AM — quietNov 5, 11 AM — quietNov 5, 2 PM — quietNov 5, 5 PM — quietNov 5, 8 PM — quietNov 5, 11 PM — quietNov 6, 2 AM — quietNov 6, 5 AM — quietNov 6, 8 AM — quietNov 6, 11 AM — quietNov 6, 2 PM — quietNov 6, 5 PM — quietNov 6, 8 PM — quietNov 6, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quietToday, 11 AM — quiet 1–2
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  1. 2

    Findings show correlation between jumping gene activity and ant species richness

    Analysis of ant lineages reveals that those containing the greatest numbers of jumping genes tend to have the most species today. The timing of these genetic surges directly preceded the major diversification events that produced modern ant diversity.

    1. 6 outlets The asteroid that killed the dinosaurs may have helped ants conquer the world

      first by Science Daily, 11d ago · also Mirage News, Inshorts, Gizmodo, 107.5 Kool FM, The Times of India

      5 more headlines
  2. 1

    Jumping genes associated with expansion of ant chemical-sensing genes

    Researchers identified a connection between transposable element activity and the expansion of gene families responsible for odorant receptors, which enable ants to detect and respond to chemical signals essential for colony coordination and social behavior.

    “The asteroid impact had dramatic consequences for the environment. We have now found the genomic mechanism that connects these ecological upheavals to the subsequent rapid diversification of the ants: transposable elements.”
    — Dr. Lukas Schrader, Study lead · source
  3. background

    Study links transposable elements to ant diversification after asteroid — Research published in Science Advances, led by Dr. Lukas Schrader of the University of Münster, reveals that jumping genes experienced surges of activity in major ant lineages around 66 million years ago, shortly before these groups expanded into thousands of species. The study examined genomes from 163 ant species across 12 of 16 surviving ant subfamilies.