A brown and gray Daubenton’s bat in midair, flying in the general direction of the camera with wings outstretched and mouth open.

Duplicated Gene Helps Bats Survive “Arms Race” With Viruses

Bats are known for staying healthy even while harboring viral infections. Now, research sheds light on how their unusual immune system evolved.

Duplicated Gene Helps Bats Survive “Arms Race” With Viruses

Bats are known for staying healthy even while harboring viral infections. Now, research sheds light on how their unusual immune system evolved.

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a Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) resting on a reflective surface

Reshuffled Genomes May Explain Cephalopods’ Smarts

Sophie Fessl, PhD | May 13, 2022 | 4 min read

In two related studies, researchers describe huge chromosomal rearrangements and about 500 novel gene clusters in the octopus, squid, and cuttlefish genomes, which they say could help explain how they evolved their extraordinary brains.

How a Pea Aphid Decides to Make Wings or Not

Viviane Callier | Jun 1, 2020 | 2 min read

Wing development in females is environmentally controlled, but in males, an insertion on the sex chromosome appears to dictate whether the insects grow wings, according to a study.

Duplicated Genes May Reduce Resilience in Yeast

Diana Kwon | Feb 13, 2017 | 3 min read

Researchers find that some duplicated yeast genes develop dependency—the loss of one copy leads to the failure of the other.