NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  1. Content with the tag: “evolution

  2. Genomic Record of the Earth's Early Biosphere (Hedges)

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
  3. Program Solicitation in Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology



    The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a program solicitation for research in sedimentary geology and paleobiology. The program focuses on numerous areas of research that are significant to the science of astrobiology. Among the topics of interest cited by the NSF are: the use of fossils, plants, animals and microbes to study how life has changed over geologic time; the science of dating and measuring time and rates of processes in the Earth’s sedimentary and biological fossil record; and studying the pre-Holocene climate systems of Earth. Proposals that seek to link multiple disciplines such as...

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    Source: [NSF]

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  4. Darwin in a Test Tube


    Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute have discovered a way to make molecules evolve and compete according to the laws of Darwinian evolution. Using RNA, the researchers were able to demonstrate that only the fittest molecules survived in the presence of a limited resource. When resources were plentiful, molecules would become increasingly specialized through generations of replication.

    This fascinating work is helping astrobiologists better understand the processes that underlie evolution. Additionally, the results could shed some light on how primitive molecules on Earth first gave live to living organisms.

    The work was funded through NASA’s Exobiology & Evolutionary Biology...



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    Source: [Astrobiology Magazine]

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  5. Reanimating Extinct Genes


    Can evolution be played over again in the lab? A group of researchers plans to insert an ancient gene in a modern day bacteria and see if this gene will mutate back to its current-day form. The results will give insight into how unique the evolutionary path may be.

    Source: [Astrobiology Magazine]

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  6. Elemental Evolution


    Ariel Anbar of NAI’s ASU Team share his thoughts on fossils, Star Trek, and life on Mars with May Copsey of RSC Publishing...

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  7. Echoes of Extinction


    The mass extinction of the dinosaurs and many other organisms 65 million-years-ago has left lasting effects on the evolution of life on Earth. A team of NASA-funded researchers has performed a global study on marine bivalves, and the results indicate that these organisms began originating new species faster than ever following the end of the Cretaceous period.

    Source: [Astrobiology Magazine]

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  8. Follow the Elements


    New research funded by the NASA Astrobiology Institute is providing insight into how the distribution of elements in Earth’s oceans has affected the evolution of life over time. The research sheds light on how the biosphere of Earth has changed alongside the planetary environment, and will help astrobiologists understand the conditions necessary for life on other planets.

    Source: [Astrobiology Magazine]

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  9. New Enzymes in the Laboratory


    A new paper in Nature this week from NAI’s NASA Ames Research Center Team describes a new technique they’ve developed through which completely new enzymes can be evolved in the laboratory. The process does not require prior understanding of how the enzymes will work, but uses product formation as the sole selection criterion.

    Source: [Link]

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  10. A New Model for the Early Ocean


    NAI’s Marine Biological Laboratory and Carnegie Institution of Washington Teams are contributing authors on a new paper in Earth and Planetary Science Letters presenting a new model for the evolution of Proterozoic deep seawater composition based on rare earth elements. Their data suggest transitional, suboxic conditions in the deep ocean (vs. sulfidic), which likely limited nutrient concentrations in seawater and, consequently, may have constrained biological evolution.

    Source: [Link]

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  11. Energy Conservation: Important Now, Important Then?


    An alternative theory for the origin and evolution of life is proposed by scientists from NAI’s Pennsylvania State University Team in the current issue of Molecular Biology and Evolution. The theory, centering on the concept that an energy-conservation pathway was the major force which powered and directed the early evolution of the cell, provides insight into the evolution of the microbial production of methane.

    Source: [Link]

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  12. Timelines for the Evolution of Cyanobacteria


    Former NAI Principal Investigator, Andy Knoll of Harvard University, and colleagues discuss the evolution of cyanobacteria in their new paper, “The evolutionary diversification of cyanobacteria: Molecular-phylogenetic and paleontological perspectives” in the April 4th issue of PNAS. The evolutionary timeline has implications for the rise of atmospheric oxygen on Earth.

    Image courtesy of Micro*scope

    Source: [Link]

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  13. Teaching Evolution


    Peter Ward of the University of Washington, the leader of the UW NAI Team, addresses the current attack on teaching evolution by an analogy with teaching students that the Earth is flat. Ward writes that “I teach evolution at the University of Washington. Even at the college level, it is a very difficult and demanding subject, and its abundant proofs require a detailed understanding of genetics, molecular biochemistry and paleontology. But for those who have made the intellectual journey to master these concepts, the stark explanatory power first realized by Charles Darwin more than 150 years ago shows clearly...

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    Source: [Link]

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  14. Carl Woese and New Perspectives on Evolution


    Scientists are proud when they discover a new species or genus of life, but one molecular biologist, Carl Woese, has the unique honor or discovering an entire domain of life, the archaea.

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  15. A World Without Elephants?


    Thoughts on the future of evolution with Harvard paleontologist Andy Knoll. Watch the video to experience the entire interview.

    Source: [Link]

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