Study Suggests Humans Can Speed Evolution

TERRADAILY

illustration only

Atlanta GA (SPX) Aug 05, 2004
It's no secret that life in the 21st century moves at a rapid pace. Human inventions such as the Internet, mobile phones and fiber optic cable have increased the speed of communication, making it possible for someone to be virtually in two places at once.

But can humans speed up the rate of one of nature�s most basic and slowest processes, evolution? A study by J. Todd Streelman, new assistant professor of biology at the Georgia Institute of Technology suggests that humans may have sped up the evolutionary clock for one species of fish.

Cichlid fish are well known to biologists for their rapid rate of evolution. While it takes many animals thousands of years to form new species, the cichlids of Africa�s Lake Malawi are estimated to have formed 1,000 new species in only 500,000 years, lightning speed in evolutionary terms.

In the 1960s a fish exporter may have unwittingly set the stage for an evolutionary explosion when he introduced individuals of the species Cynotilapia afra to Mitande Point on the lake�s Thumbi West Island.

As of 1983, the species hadn�t budged from Mitande Point. But when Streelman, then at the University of New Hampshire, Durham, and colleagues went to the island in 2001, they found the fish had evolved into two genetically distinct varieties in less than 20 years. The study appears in the August 13 edition of Molecular Ecology.

"This is a great example of human-induced evolution in action," said Streelman."It adds to a growing list of cases, including introduced salmon, flies and plants, where human disturbance has set the stage for contemporary evolution on scales we�ve not witnessed before."

The fish have evolved into two genetically distinct and differently colored populations, one on the north side of the island, the other on the south, said Streelman. Cichlid color patterns are important in mate selection, so these distinct markings may promote the evolution of new species.

Whether or not that happens and how long it will take is a question to which Streelman is eager to find the answer."It could be that we'll have new species in another 20 years, although this depends on a number of factors. Either way, we have a wonderful opportunity to follow the evolutionary trajectory of these populations over time. We plan to return to the island next July to do further study," he said.

"Thumbi West will be a valuable place to work for years to come."

TERRADAILY

NHGRI Adds 18 Organisms To Sequencing Pipeline

Bethesda MD (SPX) Aug 05, 2004
As part of its ongoing effort to enhance understanding of the human genome, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), one of the National Institutes of Health, announced Wednesday that the Large-Scale Sequencing Research Network has received the green light to begin sequencing 18 strategically selected organisms, including the orangutan, African savannah elephant and domestic cat.

SUPERPOWERS US Warned Not To Ignore Chinese Military Advances	NUKEWARS Kashmir Violence Greets India-Pakistan Talks Analysis UC's Los Alamos Contract At Stake Analysis Iraq no longer in nuclear mix Outside View: Rewarding China's Proliferation
MISSILE NEWS Poll Reveals 83 Percent Of Floridians Want Missile Defense Protection Denmark Agrees To Purchase Raytheon's AIM 9X Sidewinder Air-To-Air Missile Aegis Weapon System Delivers Aboard US Navy Destroyer James E. Williams European And Asian Firms Can Join Missile Defense Industry: NG CEO	MISSILE DEFENSE First Missile Defense Interceptor Vehicle Emplaced In Alaska Silo LockMart Delivers Aegis Weapon System To 50th Navy Destroyer Northrop Grumman And EADS To Collaborate On Missile Defense Analysis: A New Era Of Defense For Japan
AEROSPACE NASA To Award Contract For Aerospace Testing Sonic Boom Modification May Lead To New Era Hewitt Pledges Support For Aerospace Industry National Consortium Picks Aviation Technology Test Site	UAV NEWS US Army Shadow Tactical UAV's Pass 8,800 Flight Hours In Iraq US Army Shadow Tactical UAV's Pass 8,800 Flight Hours In Iraq Sanswire Networks Starts Countdown To Launch Teal Group Predicts UAV Market Will Double By 2014
IRAQ WARS	MILTECH Airbag Inflators Provide Push For New Surface Vessel Launcher Russian Navy May Sink By 2008: Admiral

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement