About 66 million years ago, a giant asteroid hit the Earth and radically changed our planet’s ecosystem. This catastrophe led to the extinction of the dinosaurs and the evolution of new life forms. Now, a new study has found traces of this massive extinction in the genes of modern-day birds.
The traces left by dinosaur extinction in bird genetics are shocking
Scientists have made significant findings by examining the genetic traces of the first birds that emerged after the extinction of dinosaurs. Researchers from the University of California have identified genetic changes in the DNA of birds from the last period of dinosaurs. This study reveals how extinction affected the evolutionary development of birds. The study observed significant changes in the genetic structure of birds after the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event.
Shiftdelete.netThe researchers looked specifically at the 5 million-year period immediately following the asteroid impact 66 million years ago. During this time, significant changes occurred in the genetic makeup of birds, including body size, metabolism, and offspring development. For example, it was found that birds became much smaller than avian dinosaurs and their offspring were born without feathers and required intensive parental care. However, some modern birds, such as ducks and chickens, have characteristics that do not require this care.
The team used advanced software to determine how these genetic changes affected the biology of birds following the extinction of dinosaurs. The results show how changes in DNA composition occurred in response to the extinction of dinosaurs. These findings allow us to better understand how the catastrophe of the end-of-dinosaur era affected the evolutionary development of birds.
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The research shows that the extinction of dinosaurs affected not only ecosystems but also genetic structures. Scientists emphasize that such studies will help us understand the profound effects of mass extinctions on organismal biology. In the future, these findings may enable further discoveries in evolutionary biology and genetics research.
