ScienceScience DailyThe asteroid that killed the dinosaurs may have helped ants conquer the world
New research suggests the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs triggered bursts of genetic activity in ants that helped them diversify into the 15,000-plus species we see today.
The asteroid that killed the dinosaurs may have set the stage for ants to conquer the planet, with a surprising boost from “jumping genes” hidden in their DNA. Scientists discovered that bursts of activity from these mobile genetic elements coincided with the rise of major ant groups and may have helped sharpen their extraordinary ability to communicate through smell.
A study published in Science Advances found that surges in so-called jumping genes helped ants rapidly diversify after the mass extinction 66 million years ago.
The research, led by Dr Lukas Schrader at the University of Münster, found that ant lineages with the most jumping genes also tend to have the most species today.
The researchers say the same pattern of jumping gene activity has also been linked to the emergence of new species in primates and bats, suggesting it may be a broader evolutionary driver.
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